Liberal DemocRATs determined to keep HIV/AIDS epidemic going
Wednesday September 24, 06:50 PM
Anal sex may lead to rise in AIDS
High levels of unprotected anal sex by men could result in a swarm of
new AIDS and Hepatitis C cases, an Australian report has warned.
A review of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C strategies identified general
complacency within the broad community, which believed HIV was under
control.
The report said this complacency extended to the political arena,
health departments and the non-HIV clinical community.
It identified significant challenges still faced by authorities in
stemming the number of new infections.
They included unacceptably high levels of unprotected anal intercourse
and of gonorrhoea among men having sex with men, and the declining
leadership role of the federal government.
The report's recommendations for a strong focus on harm minimisation
and needle and syringe programs do not reconcile with the government's
tough on drugs policy and lack of support for safe injecting rooms, it
said.
Although there were consistent declines in the number of new HIV
diagnoses in Australia from 1990 to 2000, there were 774 new cases
diagnosed in 2001, an increase of 4.6 per cent on the previous year.
The review panel said there seemed to be an erosion of political
support and some community support for harm reduction approaches.
"The review panel recommends that new approaches to harm reduction,
such as the use of supervised injecting facilities, syringes with
retractable needles and medically prescribed heroin be rigorously
evaluated," the report said.
But federal Health Minister Kay Patterson said the government remained
committed to its tough on drugs strategy, which did not include heroin
injecting rooms or heroin trials.
The report warned that without a massive re-evaluation of current
efforts, there could be a significant rise in the number of HIV and
hepatitis C infections.
"The review received many submissions asserting that government
reticence in relation to the reform of drug law and drug policy is the
most significant factor affecting the transmission of hepatitis C,"
the report said.
"The review is concerned by the growing evidence of the move away from
harm reduction towards a zero tolerance approach to illicit drug use."
Senator Patterson said the government would find new ways to deliver
safe sex messages, increase awareness of sexually transmitted diseases
and get GPs more involved in the management of hepatitis C.
But prevention was the key and that can only be done by a change in
behavior among men who have sex with men
"It is important that people at risk of infection understand that
although treatments are more effective and can prolong life of
HIV-positive people, these treatments are very arduous and have
significant side effects and there is still no vaccine or cure," she
said.
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Homosexual promiscuity and the resultant spread of deadly disease is a
clear and present danger to world health. -Edward J. Hammond, PhD
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