Jacquie Richardson, CEO of Positive Life
The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV Annual Conference is to hear that the current political stalemate has blocked the approval and implementation of a new Sexual Health Action Plan for Northern Ireland.
Chief Executive of Positive Life, Jacquie Richardson, is expected to call for the return of the Assembly and Executive to enable the appointment of a Heath Minister to review, approve, fund and implement the draft plan currently being developed by the Department of Health during her speech at the conference in Llanduduno, North Wales, later today.
Attendees will also hear that Positive Life is concerned that the current draft will not go far enough to meet the World Health Organisation target to achieve zero new HIV diagnosis by 2030. To do this the charity is urging for key actions to be included. These are:
The development and delivery of a fully funded Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) strategy that includes awareness and education of HIV.
A public awareness campaign in support of reducing transmissions and addressing stigma.
Mandatory training on HIV and sexual health for the entire health and social care workforce to address stigma and improve knowledge of indicator conditions.
Opt-out HIV testing across healthcare settings in support of HIV status awareness.
Increased provision of free condom distribution.
Positive Life has been calling for the development of a new action plan since the previous Sexual Health Promotion Strategy term came to an end in 2015 following a two-year addendum.
Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive of Positive Life said:
“We are jeopordising the sexual health of everyone who is sexually active in Northern Ireland if further delay is made to the agreement and implementation of the Sexual Health Action Plan currently being drafted by the Department of Health. Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK without a strategic plan for sexual health improvement and promotion. This simply cannot continue.
“While it is welcome that a plan is in the final stages of completion, it should not have needed the Civil Service to step in and do the job. A Health Minister should be in post working with officials to ensure the plan is ambitious, fit for purpose and funded.
“As with many areas of sexual health policy, we are concerned that the current draft will not go far enough to meet the World Health Organisation target of ending HIV diagnoses by 2030. Given the comparatively small number of people living with HIV in Northern Ireland, we believe that it is possible to be world-leading in ending new HIV diagnoses and deliver on the 2030 ambition if the commitment and investment is made by the Department.”
Commenting on the eventual implementation of the draft action plan, Jacquie Richardson added:
“In pursuit of the outcomes the draft action plan is seeking to achieve, it is essential that delivery partners such as Positive Life receive appropriate investment in support of the objectives, and that this is structured in a way that enables long-term planning.
“The decision last month by the Department to further cut and only provide Core Grant Funding to delivery partners until the end of September flies in the face their intention to eventually implement this plan.
“If we want to meet ambitious targets and tackle HIV stigma, we need a Department that is willing to help fund our vital work.”