02/12/2008

Grahame Add Her Voice to World Aids Day Call

Christine Grahame joined HIV and Sexual Health charity Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland this week to mark World AIDS Day (1st December), as figures show an increase in cases of the condition across Scotland, including the Borders.

The number of people infected with HIV nationally has increased steeply over the last 10 years with 2007 seeing a record number of new cases reported in Scotland. There were 5 new diagnoses recorded in the Borders in 2007, compared to 2 in 2000; suggesting that people may not be aware of the risks and are still taking chances with their sexual health. The numbers of people going for a test is also on the increase. Nearly 45% of people diagnosed in Scotland in the last year have been diagnosed late, when damage to the immune system is already showing.

Ms Grahame joined the World AIDs Day call to help raise awareness of the condition locally and to encourage more people to protect themselves and go for testing if they think they may have been at risk.  Ms Grahame said:

“Even though HIV seems to have slipped out of the spotlight in recent decades, people are still being affected in the Borders and around Scotland. The stigma and fear often associated with HIV often prevents people coming forward for testing. The reality is that people diagnosed today, as long as they get access to treatment, can go on to live long and healthy lives. If you think you may have been at risk, it’s really important to go for a test and not to put it off”

Catherine Murphy, Policy Officer at Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland said:

“Even in some areas where we may be only talking about relatively small numbers, the upwards trend in HIV in the last 10 years is definitely visible in most parts of Scotland. If you add to this the explosion that we’ve seen in recent years in other STIs, like Chlmaydia, its clear that the safer sex message has never been more important.”


Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We're here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups.  We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all. For more info, visit www.tht.org.uk

SNP It’s time.....