AISD SUPPORTS "IT STARTS WITH ME" CAMPAIGN

HIV spread in England 'could 

be halted within generation'

The campaign will run for two years

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There are around 100,000 people living with HIV in England and about 1000 in Nottingham/shire. One person in four does not know they have it.

People in African communities and men who have sex with men(msm) make up three-quarters of cases.

Focused screening and information for high-risk groups could end the epidemic, experts say.

The new It Starts With Me campaign, created by the Terrence Higgins Trust, in Partnership with the African Institute for Social Development(AISD) and many other partners across the country urges people in high-risk groups to get tested for HIV at least every 12 months, and more frequently if they have symptoms or have put themselves at risk by having unprotected sex, for example.

Effective treatment

Sir Nick Partridge, chief executive at the trust, said: "While a cure or vaccine for HIV remains stubbornly out of reach, what many people don't realise is that medical advances mean it is now within our grasp to stop the virus in its tracks.

"By getting as many people with HIV as possible tested and on effective treatment, we should see new infection rates fall rapidly."

He said that to succeed people need to understand that HIV is just as relevant an issue today as it was in 1982.

"Someone, somewhere in the UK is diagnosed with HIV every 90 minutes. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to keep ourselves and each other safe."

"We can now stop HIV as HIV testing is getting easier and free, combine with free Treatment for all regardless of their immigration status and regular and appropriate condom use these are ways to start the stoppage of  HIV in our community" Said Mr Amdani Juma, the Director of the African Institute for Social Development(AISD). AISD is an African Community Based Organisation(CBO) in Nottingham City and it is part of HIV Prevention England(HPE) in the East Midlands region.