HIV Ireland Press Release (4th September 2015)
HIV Ireland welcomes Health Ministers call for additional HIV testing to cope with increasing HIV infections in Ireland
HIV Ireland has welcomed the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar’s call for more efforts in the fight against HIV in Ireland at to-days Second Annual Health Sector Consultation event held in Dublin Castle.
In his opening speech, the Minister spoke about the challenges in HIV prevention and reinforced the importance of more and sustained actions on HIV testing. According to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre there has been a provisional increase of 16% in new HIV cases in Ireland in 2015 compared to this time last year (301 compared to 259). These reports also reveal that since the early 1980’s and to the end of 2014, more than 7,000 people have been newly diagnosed with HIV in Ireland.
HIV Ireland has been developing various actions and prevention campaigns to encourage testing and to guarantee support for people living with HIV. According to Niall Mulligan, Executive Director of HIV Ireland, “In 2014 HIV Ireland, in conjunction with St. James GUIDE Clinic provided free HIV and STI testing to over 300 people. We have also worked closely with national health institutions and other non-governments organisations to increase effective prevention, outreach and testing interventions, especially through key populations, such as men who have sex with men, migrants, young people and people who inject drugs.”
Niall Mulligan also highlighted the importance of all people living in Ireland knowing that ‘testing is available free of charge in more than 20 sites around the country. In fact, one of the strongest prevention weapons for everyone is to get to know your HIV status and, if diagnosed with HIV, to begin treatment as soon as possible so as to decrease the virus activity and reduce the chance of transmission.”
For information about HIV, testing, safer sex and support please visit – www.hivireland.ie; www.man2man.ie; www.positivenow.ie
End
For further information please contact:
Niall Mulligan,
Executive Director
HIV Ireland
70 Eccles Street
Dublin 7
Mobile: 085 7457951
Tel: 01 8733799
Email: niall.mulligan@hivireland.ie
www.hivireland.ie
HIV Ireland Information
HIV Ireland is a registered charity operating at local, National and European level. The principal aim of the organisation is too improve, through a range of support services, conditions for people living with HIV and AIDS and/or Hepatitis, their families and their caregivers while further promoting sexual health in the general population.
Our mission and vision is to contribute towards a significant reduction in the incidence and prevalence of HIV in Ireland and towards the realisation of an AIDS-free generation by advocating for individuals living with HIV, preventing new HIV infections and combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
Since 1987 HIV Ireland (formerly Dublin AIDS Alliance) has been pioneering services in sexual health education and promotion, and has consistently engaged in lobbying and campaigning in the promotion of human rights. Our approach broadly reflects a harm minimisation model which emphasises practical rather than idealised goals. In relation to practical service provision we currently operate under two headings:
- Community Support
- Counselling
- 1-1 Support
- Advocacy
- Community Outreach Work
- HIV & STI Community Testing
- Capacity Building with People Living with HIV
- Prevention, Education & Training
- One day workshops on HIV, STI’s and Sexual Health
- Sexual Health Training for Trainers Programme (Let’s Talk About…..Safer Sex)
- Free Condom Service (Just Carry One Campaign)
- Social Media work and campaigning
- Network Involvement