For Release:  15th June 2010

Dublin AIDS Alliance calls for political will to address ten years of rising figures of HIV infections in Ireland.
Figures released today by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show that 395 new cases of HIV were reported in 2009.  The past ten years has seen an upward trend in the number of HIV infections being reported in Ireland.
Commenting on the figures Mary O’Shea Executive Director of Dublin AIDS Alliance stated:

‘These figures demonstrate that Government is failing to prioritise HIV and sexual health on the political agenda.  The issue of HIV and AIDS has become more and more invisible. It is vital that Government plays a leading role in addressing this issue.
Stigma and Discrimination continues to be experienced by people living with HIV both in the labour market and in health and social settings. Political will and leadership are necessary to support sustainable, comprehensive and effective HIV prevention.
The publication in 2008 of HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan 2008-2012 was a welcome development with many excellent recommendations.  However, many of these recommendations need to be resourced.
Reduction in funding by Government for vital services is short sighted. Failing to invest in prevention will have greater cost implications for treatment in the long term.
One of The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is ‘to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS’ by 2015. The United Nations Political Declaration which was approved in 2006 committed world leaders (including Ireland) to work ‘towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010’.  We are now in 2009 and we urge Government again to place HIV and sexual health on the political agenda as we enter this critical phase of reaching the goals already signed up to by World Leaders.

Dublin AIDS Alliance (DAA) is again calling on Government to put HIV and sexual health on the political agenda and to:

• Introduce a National Sexual Health Strategy

• Implement and resource the HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan 2008- 2012 which has many positive recommendations.

.

• Expand testing and screening for HIV and STIs to community settings.

• Make condoms freely available to vulnerable groups and people who cannot afford them.

To mark Irish AIDS Day Dublin AIDS Alliance are providing free access to HIV testing and counselling on Tuesday 15th June from 9.30 to 12.30. No appointment necessary.
The Dublin AIDS Alliance works to promote HIV and sexual health awareness and provide a range of services including information and advice, counselling, advocacy, community support, outreach and provision of education and training on HIV and sexual health.

Further Information contact:
 Mary B O’Shea   Executive Director, Dublin AIDS Alliance
 (087) 2333260

For Release:     1^st December 2009

Dublin AIDS Alliance calls on Government to prioritise the introduction of a National Sexual Health Strategy as new figures for HIV have been released today.

Today figures released from the HPSC (Health Protection Surveillance Centre) for the first six months of 2009 show that 210 newly diagnosed cases of HIV were reported In Ireland.

 Of the 176 cases where route of transmission was reported,

·         47% (82 cases) were heterosexual,

·         41% (72 cases) were MSM (Men who have sex with men)

·         10% (18 cases) were IDU (Injecting drug users)

 HIV and sexual health has gone off the political agenda.  These figures show that investment in services and investment in HIV and sexual health prevention strategies need to be a priority for Government. We urgently need to prioritise the introduction of a Sexual Health Strategy in Ireland.  The 1st December marks World AIDS Day, but for people living with HIV every day is a reminder of the illness.

In 2008, the Government published an excellent report ‘HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan 2008 -2012’. Dublin AIDS Alliance calls on Government to resource this plan if we are serious about addressing the issues of HIV and sexual health in Ireland . It is also vital that we continue to address the issue of stigma and discrimination still experienced by HIV positive people in Ireland .

The current economic climate and funding cuts is placing a further burden on HIV/AIDS services. If we continue to reduce resources in this area it will have serious implications for public health in the future. 

For Release:  October 31, 2009  

Judgement of Equality Tribunal welcomed by Dublin AIDS Alliance

Dublin AIDS Alliance welcomes the judgement of the Equality Tribunal confirming that an HIV positive man experienced discrimination as a result of being refused primary care treatment solely because of his HIV status. In its ruling, the Tribunal stated that incorrect and outdated perceptions resulted in the complainant being viewed and treated less favourably than a person who is without HIV (or not known to have the infection) would have been treated in similar circumstances.  

The Tribunal also highlighted the importance of informing health services that persons living with HIV are often incorrectly perceived as being unhealthy or wrongly perceived as a threat to public safety, stating that it is crucial that these misconceptions are tackled effectively and immediately.  The Tribunal acknowledged the seriousness of the discrimination experienced by the complainant and emphasized the importance of a person’s right to receive health care in a non-discriminatory manner.

Executive Director Mary O’Shea stated ‘Dublin AIDS Alliance was very happy to support this man in taking his case. This case has highlighted the irrationality of HIV related discrimination. Taking such a case is a long and protracted process and we salute him for his courage and tenacity’.

Ms O’Shea also stated that ‘In line with a key recommendation of the HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan 2008-2012, the Health Service Executive and Medical and Nursing Schools should provide training opportunities on HIV related stigma and discrimination to its practitioners to ensure that such a case does not have to be taken again’.

The man who brought this case to the Equality Authority, Mr Jimmy Goulding, has stated, ‘This ruling will be very much welcomed by people living with HIV or AIDS who continue to experience discrimination on a day to day basis within health care services as well as other public and private sectors.  I would very much like to thank the Equality Authority staff, both past and present, for their on-going support over the last three and a half years. The Equality Authority is an extremely vital agency which is working to protect our human rights.’

Stigma and discrimination are triggered by myths and a lack of knowledge regarding routes of transmission of HIV. These issues can discourage people from presenting for testing, and from seeking support and vital treatment if they are diagnosed HIV positive.

Dublin AIDS Alliance works to promote HIV and sexual health awareness and provides a range of services including information and advice, counselling, advocacy, community support, outreach and provision of education and training on HIV and sexual health. They also have campaigned in partnership with other agencies for a number of years on HIV related stigma and discrimination and call on Government to address this issue as a matter of urgency.

Issued by:  Dublin AIDS Alliance

For Release:  June 15, 2009

Rise in HIV infections of major concern to Dublin AIDS Alliance

Figures released this week show a total of 405 new HIV diagnoses reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in 2008.  This represents an increase of 3.6% on 2007 figures. The cumulative total number of HIV infections in Ireland reported up to the end of December 2008 is 5,243.

·   The highest number (56%) were in the heterosexual population (178 cases)

·   30% (97) were among MSM (Men who have sex with men)

·   11% (36) were among IDUs (Injecting drug users)

These figures show that investment in services and investment in HIV and sexual health prevention strategies need to be a priority for Government.

The trends over the last number of years have shown an increase in HIV and sexually transmitted infections in Ireland .  The current economic climate and funding cuts is placing a further burden on HIV/AIDS services. If we continue to reduce resources in this area it will have serious implications for public health in the future. 

In 2008 the Government published an excellent report ‘HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan 2008 -2012’. Dublin AIDS Alliance calls on Government to resource this plan if we are serious in addressing the issues of HIV and sexual health in Ireland . It is also vital that we continue to address the issue of stigma and discrimination still experienced by HIV positive people in Ireland .

Today, Dublin AIDS Alliance will have an information stand at the GPO in O’Connell Street Dublin to help raise awareness of HIV and sexual health and will be distributing red ribbons on the streets.

Further Information

Mary B O’Shea          Executive Director, Dublin AIDS Alliance (087) 2333260

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Issued by:  Dublin AIDS Alliance

For Release:  June 11, 2009

Dublin AIDS Alliance presents Certificates in Sexual Health & Outreach training to volunteers from Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia & Kurdistan

John Curran, Minister of State for the National Drugs Strategy, Community Affairs and Integration, will today present certificates of completion for Sexual Health & Outreach training to 8 volunteers from Dublin AIDS Alliance (DAA).

This event is the culmination of a four year project in which Dublin AIDS Alliance aimed to engage people from ethnic minority communities in the design and dissemination of HIV and sexual health information. 

The volunteers, who collectively speak a total of sixteen different languages, have been working in conjunction with our full time staff for eight months.   At the launch, DAA Executive Director Ms O’Shea stated that “the addition of the volunteers have proved to be an invaluable resource in engaging the hard to reach populations on issues of HIV and sexual health in Ireland ”. 

It is essential that awareness of HIV and sexual health remain at the forefront of Government policy as we approach Irish AIDS day on June 15, 2009 and beyond.

The trends over the last number of years have shown an increase in HIV and sexually transmitted infections in Ireland.  The current economic climate and funding cuts is placing a further burden on HIV/AIDS services. If we continue to reduce resources in this area it will have serious implications for public health in the future.  It is vital that Government resource and implement the HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan 2008 -2012 which was published in June 2008.  It is also vital that we continue to address the issue of stigma and discrimination still experienced by HIV positive people in Ireland.

Further Information: