NZAF Executive Director Shaun Robinson A continuing increase in the annual number of new HIV diagnoses in Australia is alarming the NZ AIDS Foundation in the face of a significant downturn being achieved this side of the Tasman. In both countries the continuing HIV epidemic is primarily amongst men who have sex with men. One of the main hotspots of the rising HIV infection rate in Australia is the Surrey Hills area of inner-city Sydney, home to Australia's largest and most concentrated gay population and a magnet for visiting gay New Zealanders. Following Australia's announcement of an 8% increase in new HIV diagnoses in 2011 the Foundation is highlighting New Zealand’s more than 33% decrease in new HIV cases for the same period. The Foundation's Executive Director believes consistent condom promotion is the primary reason for this success. “The NZAF is particularly concerned that Australia’s current HIV prevention messaging is becoming increasingly focused on the use of drug-based HIV prevention strategies, with far less emphasis on the promotion of condoms,” says Shaun Robinson, who describes the continued infection rate rise in Australia as "alarming." The announcement of the Australian figures came on the same day as the release of the Melbourne Declaration which repeats Australia’s commitment to halving annual HIV diagnoses by 2015. Key action points in the Melbourne Declaration include the need to "mobilise and inform people with and at risk of HIV about advances in treatment and prevention," the establishment of "projects that provide access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis to people at high risk of HIV infection" and the "fast tracking of licensing and funding of antiretroviral drugs for effective HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis." Robinson says he would be cautious about relying on treatment to prevent subsequent new infections. “Going down the road of promoting drug-based HIV prevention initiatives with little focus on condoms and lube is extremely dangerous. I worry that some will think popping a pill on a Friday night will give them a hall pass to have unprotected sex. There is no magic prevention pill for HIV.” He sites as an example research released by the USA's Food and Drug Administration showing that a popular HIV medication Truvada sometimes used as a pre-exposure or precautionary 'shield' against contracting HIV is only 42% effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV during unprotected anal sex between men. “Why would anyone gamble their health with these odds?”, asks Robinson. “Condoms have a proven 95% efficacy when used correctly and consistently and remain the single most effective HIV prevention tool available.” “New Zealand has one of the lowest HIV prevalence rates in the world," Robinson says, "and our success is largely attributed to the consistent and vigorous promotion of condoms since the epidemic began.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Dailt News staff
First published: Thursday, 18th October 2012 - 1:42pm