HIV Ireland launches National HIV Stigma Survey
Survey to Explore HIV Stigma & Discrimination
Press Release Wednesday 1st March, 2017
HIV Ireland is marking its 30th anniversary by undertaking a National Survey on Stigma and HIV in partnership with the Mater Hospital/UCD. The survey will explore how living with HIV impacts on people’s day to day lives, especially within the context of stigma and discrimination.
Coinciding with UNAIDS Zero Discrimination Day, the survey for people living with HIV goes live on Wednesday 1st March. HIV Ireland is asking for people living with HIV to visit its website (www.hivireland.ie/survey) and complete the short survey.
With new HIV diagnoses in Ireland increasing to their highest level on record in 2016, Niall Mulligan, Executive Director of HIV Ireland said: ‘‘It is crucial for us to understand all the reasons behind the continued increase of new HIV diagnoses in Ireland. We have seen an increase of 35% since 2011, with a total of 513 people diagnosed as living with HIV in 2016, compared to 485 in 2015 [www.hpsc.ie – provisional data]. Ireland now has an average of 10 people per week being diagnosed with HIV. Understanding more about people’s personal experiences of living with HIV will help in the response to this very real public health challenge in Ireland today’.
On the launch of Zero Discrimination Day, Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director stated that ‘the right to health belongs to all. On this #ZeroDiscrimination Day let us commit to ensuring everyone, everywhere can access health care safely, and live life fully with dignity’.
The National HIV Stigma Survey will remain live for 6 weeks. Interim results are expected to be available for Irish AIDS Day on Thursday 15th June, with the full report being launched in the latter half of 2017, providing a real insight into the reality of living with HIV in Ireland in 2017.
For information about HIV, testing, safer sex and support please visit – www.hivireland.ie; www.man2man.ie; www.positivenow.ie
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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
