National HIV prevention strategy needed for Black Caribbean population

A new report by NAT (National AIDS Trust) shows that the black Caribbean population in the UK is disproportionately affected by HIV. Black Caribbean people make up 1% of the UK population but account for 3% of people living with HIV. HIV prevalence is over four times higher than in the white population. Despite this, a national HIV prevention strategy for the black Caribbean population does not exist.

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

'NAT welcome the exciting news that taking antiretroviral drugs (drugs that help treat HIV) before being exposed to HIV may prevent HIV infection. This is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and could become a significant weapon in the fight against HIV. 

On International Women's Day, 8 March 2008, the National AIDS Trust calls on Government and pharmaceutical companies to support trials of a new class of microbicides that could offer the greatest hope for women's sexual health in the 21st century. Existing methods of HIV prevention are failing millions of women, particularly in developing countries, where women often cannot negotiate condom use.

Nearly half (49 percent) of the British public don't always use a condom when with a new sexual partner, according to the Ipsos MORI survey conducted for the National AIDS Trust. In National Condom Week the National AIDS Trust is calling for new culture of condom use in the UK.

On the occasion of World AIDS Vaccine Day, Sunday 18 May 2008, Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust confims the charity's support for the development of new methods of HIV prevention and calls on the government to intensify  its commitment to the development of a HIV vaccine which could save millions of lives. To find out more about the current situation with regards to vaccine research, read the comment piece from Seth Berkley of the International AIDS Vaccine Initative (IAVI) featured in the Guardians's 'Comment is free'.