Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, is standing up for sexual health with the Terrence Higgins Trust who he met up with in Parliament on Tuesday 4 February to get the latest facts on HIV and sexual health.
Public Health England estimate that 103,800 people were living with HIV in the UK at the end of 2018. 4,453 diagnoses of HIV were made that year, a drop of 29% compared to 2015. This decrease appears to be positive, but there are variations between different populations and regions in the UK.
The Terrence Higgins Trust are calling upon the Government to review Public Health Funding, Relationships and Sex Education and Sexual Health provisions to improve public and sexual health in the UK. PrEP is a drug taken by HIV-negative people before sex to reduce their risk of contracting HIV. The Terrence Higgins Trust are passing on the message that U=U which means that HIV-positive people with an undetected viral load cannot transmit the virus to others.
The Terrence Higgins Trust would like the Government to recommit to the commissioning and funding of PrEP in England from April 2020 in order to reach the 2030 target of no new transmissions of HIV in England. It is vital that all communities with the potential to benefit from PrEP are included in the commission.
Andrew Gwynne said:
“I always enjoy meeting with the Terrence Higgins Trust who campaign tirelessly to de-stigmatise HIV and sexual health for all.
“It is so important that the Government act to improve our public and sexual health. I am especially passionate about the commission and funding of PrEP in England to further reduce the number of HIV diagnoses in the UK.
“U=U is an important message being spread by the Terrence Higgins Trust which I believe will improve the lives of everyone living with HIV.”
Jonathan McShane, Chair of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said:
“It’s clear to see that sexual health has been neglected for too long and has not been a priority for successive governments.
“There needs to be a long-term approach to improving sexual health.
“An ambitious strategy, matched with proper funding, is the only way we can support people to have healthy and fulfilling sex lives.”
