Time for drastic advertising?

#197100Mon 24/09/07 11:15

"The Terrence Higgins Trust says the number of HIV infections has more than doubled in the last six years.

Dr Harindra, director at Portsmouth's genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic, says between 20% and 25% of the young people he sees believe they can be cured of HIV.

Drug treatments which help manage HIV have led some people to wrongly believe it can actually be cured altogether, he says"

So is it time to go back to the drastic advertising we saw in the 1980s. Or would the stigma on postive people be too much? Is there a balance that could be struck? Interestingly the THT figures did not mention the role in African Transmission patients accounting for what percentage of the increase.

deleted:slam4000Mon 24/09/07 11:18

Interestingly the THT figures did not mention the role in African Transmission patients accounting for what percentage of the increase.

I'm not clear about this point. What do you mean?

#197100Mon 24/09/07 11:24

Over half of UK newly registered transmissions come from immigrants from Africa who contracted in Africa. These are not necessarily linked to the discussion about 18 to 24 patients in the way the article would have you make assumptions and draw conclusions.

fitguy_pompeyMon 24/09/07 11:25

I don't think putting the fear of god in to people is a good idea where HIV is concerned. There's enough stigma surrounding the virus today, without making it worse, or going back to the advertising we saw some 20 years ago.

There does need to be more education and a greater level of awareness, not only concerning HIV, but all STIs which have increased massively in recent years.

deleted:foxyMon 24/09/07 11:25

I believe it's time for some real in-your-face advertising from DOH - either directly or via the NHS Health Protection Agency.

Improvements in (combination) drug therapies have certainly improved the lot of those unfortunate enough to have been infected by HIV but there is still no cure.

It's time to declare war on complacency. It's literally a matter of life and death.

#197100Mon 24/09/07 11:29

Do you feel that the financing for this is properly targeted? or is political correctness diverting money from those most at risk?

deleted:foxyMon 24/09/07 11:30

quoting > "It's time to declare war on complacency."

What I should have said is it's time to declare war on HIV and the complacency which so often surrounds it.

And we need to make better support available for those who have been infected or otherwise affected by this hideous disease.

deleted:staffordtonyMon 24/09/07 11:30

Might also help if idiots stopped the stupid practice of barebacking as well! I haven't got a lot of time for people who knowingly and deliberately have unsafe sex then expect sympathy when they catch something! All it takes is a condom!

deleted:yngviMon 24/09/07 11:34

quoting > "Might also help if idiots stopped the stupid practice of barebacking as well! I haven't got a lot of time for people who knowingly and deliberately have unsafe sex then expect sympathy when they catch something! All it takes is a condom!"

That does not help the debate.

What is needed is more effective sexual health education in schools.

#197100Mon 24/09/07 11:35

quoting > "I haven't got a lot of time for people who knowingly and deliberately have unsafe sex then expect sympathy when they catch something! "

You know this is wonderfully judgemental. Often people who put themselves in compromising positions tend to be unstable in some form or other. It can be mental, drug induced or just terrible lack of self-esteem and self worth. Remember that the gay "community" is painfully scared from being different and losing many reference points.

Just look at thge mental health, alcoholism, drug abuse rates in gay men and you start to see the obvious entry point for disease.

fitguy_pompeyMon 24/09/07 11:37

Do you feel that the financing for this is properly targeted? or is political correctness diverting money from those most at risk?

Monies for HIV is not ring fenced in the NHS anymore, so funds are being diverted elsewhere.

From my own experience, World AIDS Day funding is cut year on year, even though there is a great deal of good work that goes on in my part of the world (SE Hampshire & Portsmouth), and the support group I attend always has a fight on its hands where funding is concerned (from central and local Govt).