Over 20 HIV and sexual health charities, including Terrence Higgins Trust and National AIDS Trust, have joined forces to call on the next Government to end the HIV epidemic in the UK — and become the first country to do so.
With just five years left to deliver the UK’s commitment to end new HIV cases by 2030, One Parliament Left, a manifesto launched by National AIDS Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust and their partners, sets out the urgent actions Parliament must take to achieve this historic goal.
According to the charities: “Incredible advances in treatment and prevention mean the goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030 is in reach. People living with HIV on effective treatment can live a long, healthy life and can’t pass HIV on. HIV prevention pill, PrEP, stops HIV-negative people from contracting the virus. And huge leaps forward in HIV testing mean that we can – and must – find every person living with undiagnosed HIV and get them the care they need”.
The charities say with bold, targeted, and urgent action these life-changing interventions will end transmissions and make living well a reality for all who live with HIV.
The 2019 to 2024 Parliament has seen “considerable progress” – the first UK Government HIV Action Plan was published, opt-out HIV testing introduced in 81 A&E departments, PrEP commissioned in sexual health services, and discrimination is being tackled across multiple settings including; the military, pilots, driving, blood donation and fertility rights.
But the charities say there is so much more to be done. They add: “Vital progress made so far is threatened by a new sexual health crisis. Rates of STIs are higher than ever, demand for services is ever increasing, and access is limited for many.”
Produced in collaboration with expert charities, doctors’ groups and public health professionals, the manifesto calls for the following six actions to ensure the UK achieves zero HIV transmissions by 2030:
- An expansion of opt-out HIV testing
- The introduction of a national one-stop-shop online PrEP, HIV and STI postal testing service
- The creation of a national re-engagement programme for people living with HIV who are not in care
- The provision of year-on-year, above inflation public authority health grant funding
- The development of a national sexual health strategy
- Justice for those impacted by the contaminated blood scandal.
Richard Angell, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “MPs elected in July this year have a simple choice: Be the generation to end the HIV epidemic and stop new HIV cases or not. We are in touching distance but we need to pull our finger out to make it happen.
“While progress has been made – PrEP free on the NHS, opt-out testing across the highest prevalence parts of the country and the rolling back of stigmatising laws – every day we are missing chances to make this goal a reality. To end new HIV cases, we have to turn this around.
“If our leaders are serious about ending this epidemic, this is the last parliamentary term to do it. Get it right and we could be the first country in the world to end new HIV cases. What a legacy that would be.”
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of National AIDS Trust, said: “We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to end new HIV infections in the UK by 2030, whilst also making living well with HIV a reality for everyone affected. That’s why it’s so vital that we don’t lose momentum and political commitment now. So we are calling on all political parties to commit to this manifesto, and asking our supporters to join with us in holding the next parliament to account.
“The manifesto’s six clear asks have been produced by experts in the sector, including charities, doctors’ groups, and public health professionals. When adopted, they will ensure that we are on track for the 2030 goal. They can and must be prioritised by the incoming government.”
Read the full manifesto, One Parliament Left, here.
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