50% of those infected with HIV in 2003 had never previously had an HIV test, and the AIDS Foundation is concerned that this shows there are sections of the community its messages are not getting through to. Also, 39 continued to be the average age of those infected throughout the year. "That particular group is another area that we're aware of that we need to do something about – those who don't necessarily test,” says AIDS Foundation executive director Rachael LeMesurier. “At that age group, it suggests to us that they're highly likely not to have been in touch with the gay community. If they've not tested ever before, they're far more likely not to identify as gay or bisexual, and be sitting out there in the heterosexual community." LeMesurier sees devising new ways of reaching those men who no longer feel a need to identify specifically with the gay community as one of the great challenges for the Foundation in 2005. "Also, in the men who go to the sex-on-site venues, the bars, while I'm aware that we are reaching them with our current resources, we may not be engaging them," she says. "What we're aware of is those average-age-39 men are individuals, they have very specific reasons for why they may not be being reached. We have to speak more with them about what they think will have an impact."
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 10th January 2005 - 12:00pm