HIV Ireland Press Release (29th October 2015) HIV Ireland welcomes Health Ministers launch of Irelands first National Sexual Health Strategy

HIV Ireland has warmly welcomed the launch of Irelands first ever National Sexual Health Strategy by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar at The Button Factory in Temple Bar.

 

In conversation with Ray Darcy, who compered the launch, the Minister spoke about the important role the new strategy will have on the ‘need to turn the tide on increasing STI infections, including HIV’. The Minister went on to highlight the importance of, and need for, “better access to education and information” on sexual health for all.

 

Speaking after the launch, Niall Mulligan, Executive Director of HIV Ireland stated that ‘This is the first time HIV has been integrated into a broader sexual health context in Ireland. While this is welcomed by HIV Ireland, we cannot afford to become complacent. We know that certain population groups remain at greater risk of HIV infection and that HIV-related stigma and discrimination remain a significant issue for people when it comes to accessing testing, disclosing their HIV status and onward transmission. We must continually remind ourselves that as new HIV diagnoses increase in Ireland (388 new provisional diagnoses to date in 2015, an increase of 65 over this time last year – www.hpsc.ie), approximately 30% of people who are living with HIV in Ireland don’t actually know they are. The Ministers support for increased testing is key to responding to the growing HIV diagnoses in Ireland’.

 

For many years, HIV Ireland has called for the publication of a National Sexual Health Strategy. On Irish AIDS Day 2005, HIV Ireland called on the Irish Government to put sexual health on the political agenda, to develop a National Sexual Health Strategy, while reinvesting in prevention and making condoms freely available. On that very day, ten years ago, HIV Ireland organised a march from the Garden of Remembrance to Dail Eireann to lobby for a National Sexual Health Strategy and received political endorsement from a range of T.D.s including our current President, Mr. Michael D. Higgins.

 

In launching this strategy, Leo Varadkar becomes the first Health Minister in the history of the Irish state to preside over a fundamental policy shift in the way society responds to the sexual health and wellbeing of each and every citizen. By creating an openness towards sexual health, we can tackle some of the barriers that have existed for many years in relation to sex and sexual health in Ireland. Embarrassment, lack of knowledge, fear and shame have so often led to poor health outcomes, stigma and discrimination for people across Irish society, especially those affected by HIV.

 

Since 2005, HIV Ireland has been consistently involved in the development of the new strategy, and is delighted to see it come to fruition. The resourcing of the strategy is crucial and when asked about a budget to implement the strategy the Minister responded that the Department of Health “haven’t put a formal costing on it yet” but with ‘a rising health budget there will be resources made available” for implementing the strategy. HIV Ireland welcomes this commitment and looks forward to working alongside the Department of Health, the Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme and other key stakeholders across the lifetime of the strategy.

 

For information about HIV, testing, safer sex and support please visit – www.hivireland.ie; www.man2man.ie; www.positivenow.ie

 

End

 

 

 

For further information please contact:

 

Niall Mulligan,

Executive Director

HIV Ireland

70 Eccles Street

Dublin 7

 

Mobile:  085 7457951

Tel: 01 8733799

Email: niall.mulligan@hivireland.ie

www.hivireland.ie

 

HIV Ireland Information

 

HIV Ireland is a registered charity operating at local, National and European level. The principal aim of the organisation is too improve, through a range of support services, conditions for people living with HIV and AIDS and/or Hepatitis, their families and their caregivers while further promoting sexual health in the general population.

 

Our mission and vision is to contribute towards a significant reduction in the incidence and prevalence of HIV in Ireland and towards the realisation of an AIDS-free generation by advocating for individuals living with HIV, preventing new HIV infections and combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

 

Since 1987 HIV Ireland (formerly Dublin AIDS Alliance) has been pioneering services in sexual health education and promotion, and has consistently engaged in lobbying and campaigning in the promotion of human rights. Our approach broadly reflects a harm minimisation model which emphasises practical rather than idealised goals. In relation to practical service provision we currently operate under two headings:

 

  1. Community Support
  • Counselling
  • 1-1 Support
  • Advocacy
  • Community Outreach Work
  • HIV & STI Community Testing
  • Capacity Building with People Living with HIV

 

  1. Prevention, Education & Training
  • One day workshops on HIV, STI’s and Sexual Health
  • Sexual Health Training for Trainers Programme (Let’s Talk About…..Safer Sex)
  • Free Condom Service (Just Carry One Campaign)
  • Social Media work and campaigning
  • Network Involvement

Now closed for bookings: Hepatitis Workshop, 17th November 2015

Now closed for bookings: Hepatitis Workshop, 17th November 2015

 

This popular half-day workshop aims to provide participants with basic up-to-date and relevant information on Hepatitis A, B, and C, including transmission, prevention and testing.  The workshop will be beneficial to people working in the voluntary and community sector who may deal with hepatitis issues in the workplace.  For more information and booking forms click here

 

Photo launch of Just Saying NICDAFT

 ‘Just Saying…’ report launched by Minister Aodhán ó Ríordáin

 

On 21st October, Minister Aodhán ó Ríordáin launched a report on the views of young people about drugs and alcohol.  ‘Just Saying…’ is a report compiled from a number of youth conventions held in 2013 and 2014 in Dublin’s north inner city, organised by the Prevention and Education sub-committee of the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NICDATF).  The committee is chaired by Maureen O’Sullivan, T.D. and members include representatives from HIV Ireland, Bradóg Regional Youth Service, Hands on Peer Education and BeLonG To Youth Services.

The report presents the views of 400 young students from nine local schools who took part in four Youth Conventions.  The aim of the conventions was to listen to young people’s views on drugs and alcohol, their opinions on the various drugs education and prevention experienced to date through their schools or clubs.  Round-table discussions at the conventions were facilitated by youth workers involved in the committee and from other various clubs and projects in the north inner city.

 

When officially launching the report, the Minister made particular reference to the recommendation that the voices of young people should be central to the development of drug education and prevention initiatives, and should be involved in the development of the next National Drugs Strategy (currently being developed).  The Minister gave his support for this recommendation and suggested the organisation of a conference or seminar to facilitate this.

 

When discussing future prevention approaches, young people cited the importance of presenting them with the facts about drugs and alcohol so that they could make informed choices.  Young people further highlighted the need for information on sexual health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  HIV Ireland will continue its active involvement in the Prevention and Education sub-committee to ensure these issues raised by young people are included in future initiatives.

 

For copies of the report contact the NICDATF  www.nicdtf.ie

 

 

HIV Ireland NewsDesk Weekly 23/10/2015

Check out this week’s NewsDesk here:

HIV Ireland NewsDesk Weekly 19 October to 23 October 2015

This weekly resource includes updates on relevant national, European and international news and policy issues on HIV, hepatitis and sexual health-related issues.  This service is provided free by HIV Ireland to a range of organisations and individuals interested in these areas, and offers a summary of relevant weekly news highlights from various sources including national and local print media and related-websites.

HIV Ireland NewsDesk Weekly 16/10/2015

Check out this week’s NewsDesk here:

HIV Ireland NewsDesk Weekly 12 October to 16 October 2015

This weekly resource includes updates on relevant national, European and international news and policy issues on HIV, hepatitis and sexual health-related issues.  This service is provided free by HIV Ireland to a range of organisations and individuals interested in these areas, and offers a summary of relevant weekly news highlights from various sources including national and local print media and related-websites.

Stigma and Disclosure in Ireland

The enduring power of stigma – understanding why HIV-positive gay men don’t disclose their status

Study highlights stigma within gay communities, and amongst HIV-positive men

For full study follow this link or go to www.aidsmap.com

 

Invitation to Tender

National Survey on HIV in Ireland

HIV Ireland invites submissions of tenders to deliver this project being a National Survey on HIV in Ireland. Download more details of the specific project, required expertise, invitation to tender and tender criteria in our tendering document: HIV Ireland National HIV Survey Tendering Document – 9th October 2015

Tenders to be submitted by e-mail to niall.mulligan@hivireland.ie

by 5.00 p.m. on Monday 2nd November 2015

HIV Ireland NewsDesk Weekly 09/10/2015

Check out this week’s NewsDesk here:

HIV Ireland NewsDesk Weekly 5 October to 9 October 2015

This weekly resource includes updates on relevant national, European and international news and policy issues on HIV, hepatitis and sexual health-related issues.  This service is provided free by HIV Ireland to a range of organisations and individuals interested in these areas, and offers a summary of relevant weekly news highlights from various sources including national and local print media and related-websites.

HIV Ireland NewsDesk Weekly 02/10/2015

Check out this week’s NewsDesk here:

HIV Ireland NewsDesk Weekly 28 September to 2 October 2015

This weekly resource includes updates on relevant national, European and international news and policy issues on HIV, hepatitis and sexual health-related issues.  This service is provided free by HIV Ireland to a range of organisations and individuals interested in these areas, and offers a summary of relevant weekly news highlights from various sources including national and local print media and related-websites.