City council organises ‘Tackling HIV in Coventry’ conference
HIV experts met in the city last month, to help step up treatment of the condition.
Coventry City Council Public Health organised the event to further develop the strategy to tackle the handling of HIV in Coventry, and to increase awareness of the necessity of HIV testing. Another aim for the event was to help increase the awareness with professionals of the need for more HIV testing. The conference was sponsored by MSD.
The conference featured talks from a wide range of medical professionals and services covering various topics, including the national and local epidemiology of HIV, national recommendations for testing, patient journeys and a ‘Questions for the Panel’ session.
Dr Satyajit Das, alongside other members of the Integrated Sexual Health Service from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, and Dr Ravi Gowda, an Infectious Disease Consultant from travel health experts Travelklinix, spoke at the event.
Coventry has the highest prevalence of HIV in the West Midlands. In 2014, 54% of newly diagnosed HIV patients in Coventry were diagnosed late, which leads to poorer health outcomes and increases the likelihood of transmission. Nearly one fifth (17%) of those living with HIV are unaware that they have the condition.
The exact cause for the higher prevalence of HIV in Coventry is not certain, but possible factors may include increased awareness among the population as a result of sustained efforts from public health campaigners and the Integrated Sexual Health Service, along with a stronger message about treatment effectiveness compared to the poor outcomes of the 1980s, which may have encouraged more people to come forward to get themselves tested.
Alison Blair, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Lead for the HIV Service at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, has said: “HIV is a treatable long-term medical illness. Early diagnosis prevents people from developing AIDs and also unknowingly passing the infection on to others.
“The treatment can be very simple, and is free.”
Earlier this year, members of the Integrated Sexual Health Service led the ‘Go Red for Feb’ campaign in order to raise awareness of HIV issues in Coventry, and to combat the taboo regarding discussions around HIV. The campaign included support from Coventry City Football Club and the Wasps Rugby Club, who agreed to wear red t-shirts and promote awareness of HIV testing.