This World AIDS Day (1 December) NAT is campaigning for the Prime Minister to fulfil the UK’s UN commitment and put in place a national strategy on HIV from 2011.

By the end of 2011 there will be more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK.  However, the current national strategy for HIV and sexual health in England expires at the end of 2010 – with no current plans to replace it.  NAT is asking people to sign our e-petition calling for a national strategy to combat HIV. 

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have all recently agreed strategic approaches for the next few years to address HIV in devolved policy areas, but there needs to be UK-wide leadership to ensure equity across the four nations.  Therefore we are asking the UK Government to fulfil its UN commitment and put in place from 2011 a national strategy to combat HIV in the UK, in collaboration with the devolved administrations.

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust) comments:

'Without strategic, political leadership on HIV, the issue will become sidelined and silenced by stigma.  Or at best, HIV will be only addressed as a health issue – disregarding the social context which must also be tackled if we are to respond effectively to the epidemic.

'A new national strategy is needed which takes account of the significant changes in the last decade in HIV testing and treatment, in health and social care provision, in legal rights, and in the epidemic itself.  New HIV diagnoses are now three times what they were ten years ago and we have yet to see evidence of a decline in rates of new infection.'

Sign our e-petition
You can sign our e-petition calling for a national strategy on HIV here

Be an HIV activist!
We will shortly be launching a range of actions which individuals can take to help NAT transform the UK’s response to HIV.  If you are interested in signing up to be a HIV Activist and support NAT’s campaigns throughout the year, just email: HIVactivist@nat.org.uk

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Notes to the editor:

For further information please contact: 
Charli Scouller
Communications Manager
NAT
020 7814 6733
press@nat.org.uk  

NAT 
NAT (National AIDS Trust) is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to transforming society’s response to HIV. We provide fresh thinking, expert advice and practical resources. We campaign for change.
Shaping attitudes. Challenging injustice. Changing lives.
www.nat.org.uk