30% of people with HIV unaware they carry the virus

Issued : Wednesday 30 November, 2011

To mark World AIDS Day Nessa Childers MEP has co-sponsored a strong European Parliament statement on the EU strategy for HIV/AIDS.

"HIV/AIDS is still a major public health concern. MEPs are calling for stronger action to reduce new infections, over 25,000 of which were recorded in 2009. An estimated 30% of people with HIV/AIDS are unaware they carry the virus.

"We need to increase HIV testing for all, but especially amongst at-risk populations. We also are calling for more action to tackle stigma and discrimination. People living with HIV/AIDS should be included in all equality and anti-discriminatory legislation.

"The EU should also provide a policy framework to encourage national governments to address the issue of HIV/AIDS in the context of sexual health strategies and the promotion of sexual health. We need closer links between HIV/AIDS care and sexual health care to reduce unsafe sexual risk-taking behaviours and reduce sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

"Recent policy documents on HIV/AIDS in an Irish context have recognised the need for a national sexual health strategy to be developed in Ireland but as yet this has not happened.
"World AIDS Day 2011 marks the 30 years of the discovery of the first AIDS case, in 1981. It is held on 1st December each year since 1988 and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died."

More information:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/newsletter/2011-W48/7

http://www.worldaidsday.org/

The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that within the EU 30% of people infected with HIV do not know that they have the virus.