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People Living with HIV in UK
HIV Testing Programs
Scientific Federation proudly invites all the participants from all over the world to attend 2nd International Conference & Expo on HIV & AIDS during Sep 17-18, 2018 in Toronto, Canada.
According to the 2011 census, there were 989,628 people of black African background in England and Wales. 479,799 were men and 509,829 were women. The population of black African represents about 1.8% of the resident population of England. The Public Health of England situational report of 2015 on HIV indicated that the number of people living with HIV in the UK continues to increase and the number living with undiagnosed HIV remains high. It was estimated that 103700 people were living with HIV in the UK in 2015, of which about 17% were undiagnosed and did not know about their HIV status. The report also showed that about 40% of people diagnosed with HIV in 2015 were diagnosed late. The number of people living with HIV aged over 50 has been increasing and there has been a 2% decrease in testing at sexual health clinics over the past year. The report indicated that 54,100 people had acquired HIV through heterosexual sex. More than one in five was unaware of their HIV infection. A higher proportion of those diagnosed with HIV was living outside London. It is a fact that if someone has a late diagnosis, it is more likely that the virus will have already seriously damaged his or her immune system. 51% black African suffered in this way according to PHE 2014 statistics.
Across Luton, HIV rates among men who have sex with other men (MSM) as well as heterosexual black African men and women continue to go up. In Luton there are 622 Luton residents that are HIV positive accessing care, of which 470 are seen and treated in Luton, 409 are of Black African origin (PHE, 2016). I am an enthusiastic and a staunched member of a black African and Caribbean Church as are many of my fellow countrymen. The leading Pastor is a very influential figure in these communities. His role is pivotal in encouraging HIV/AIDS patients to take prescribed medications as well as participating in prayer. Sadly, the recent investigation by health agencies and the media exposed major concerns that some Pastors are advising their church members not to take an HIV test and to refrain from taking anti-retroviral therapy (ART) or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Some Pastors prefer to teach that prayer alone will provide a cure. Those who adhered to this ignorant approach were not well served by their Pastors. In 2011, the BBC reported that Evangelical Christians Pastors claims that prayer alone could cure HIV/AIDS caused three deaths.
To make matters worse, a significant number of infections remain undiagnosed, which once again underlines the importance of testing. Black African men and women are advised to have an HIV test and a regular HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) screen if having unprotected sex with new or casual partners. However, the uptake in HIV testing remains relatively low, partly because of complacency about HIV/AIDS as a major global health concern, but also because of the age-old stigma around the virus that we haven’t yet managed to completely shake. While diseases like cancer are addressed and discussed openly, HIV is often a topic that people avoid talking about it*956, which leads to a culture of shame and misinformation. Many are so afraid of contracting HIV that they avoid testing, choosing not to know their status. Many are too afraid to tell their partners that they are HIV positive, in case they are rejected and shamed. HIV is a virus. It doesn’t define anyone and doesn’t contribute or take away anything from an individual’s worth. It is a health problem that we all need to discuss and tackle together.
Research evidence suggested that the stigma and the discrimination associated with HIV are serious burdens for many black African people living with HIV in the UK. A national strategy is needed to address HIV- related stigma, including within the NHS, and this should also be reflected in local initiatives, especially in areas of high HIV prevalence. It is really important to adopt effective anti-stigma approaches to include improved information on HIV treatment and prognosis, engagement with faith communities in anti-stigma and anti-discrimination work, as well as addressing wider racism associated with HIV.
In fact, there is a need for an expanded and a scaled up HIV testing programmes across the target communities to reduce undiagnosed infection and late diagnosis. It is very important that HIV is diagnosed early so that people can start treatment, look after their own health and take steps to ensure that they don’t pass the virus on. Delay in diagnosis increases the risk of complications and death. Most people living with HIV infection if diagnosed early can be well managed and lead full and healthy lives. Early testing and diagnosis of HIV reduce treatment costs: £12,600 per annum per patient, compared with £23,442 with a later diagnosis (PHE, 2015).
Take Action Now and U Test 4 Life project was designed to aim at reducing new infection rate of HIV and promoting early diagnosis through setting up testing clinic in the high risk communities, promoting and creating awareness of HIV /AIDS, challenging the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV /AIDS in churches and communities through mass campaign and education, signposting people to various GUM Clinics and other HIV Support services in the community for effective treatment and medication, increasing capacity building of services and treatment to people living with HIV and their families in the high risk communities in Luton. It took place in the high-risk communities in Luton -Bedfordshire in the East of England where the majority of the black African people are populated especially in the High Town ward of Luton. The High Town community is considered as red light zones because the HIV infection is high due to women indulge in the sex trade, men have sex with men, people engage in drugs due to poverty.
HIV-AIDS-2018 will provide the excellent opportunities for the researchers, scientists, professors, delegates and students from all over the world exchange information on HIV-AIDS which contains plenary sessions, keynote speeches, poster, and oral presentations on HIV-AIDS On Emerging area on Immunology, Microbiology, Infection&Imunnity, Public Health, Infectious Diseases, Virology, Pathology, Psychology, Biochemistry, Epidemiology, Gynecology, Global Health, and Population Health.
To Know More about Hiv-Aids-2018: Click Here
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