Dept ‘understating’ A.I.D.S. Issue (Press, 28 September 1985)

A visiting medical school professor, Dr David Sutherland from Newcastle Medical School in New South Wales, has publicly criticised New Zealand health authorities for their inadequate public awareness campaigns regarding AIDS. Speaking at a news conference on 28 September 1985, called by health spokesman Mr Philip Burdon, Professor Sutherland expressed concern that the Health Department was downplaying a critical issue. He emphasised that New Zealand should leverage its geographical isolation to learn from the experiences of countries like the United States, England, and Australia, which he noted had made the error of inaction in dealing with the AIDS crisis. Professor Sutherland argued that the prevailing attitude of avoiding panic should be reconsidered. He posited that having a controlled public awareness and discussion about AIDS would be more beneficial for society, rather than waiting until the situation escalated into widespread hysteria and discrimination. He called for a more proactive approach, stressing the need for awareness campaigns that reached all segments of society, including schools, healthcare providers, and the LGBTQ+ communities. He pointed out that informal discussions with groups such as prostitutes—who, according to him, would want to stay informed to protect their health—were essential to comprehensive public education about the disease. Professor Sutherland, who is also the director of the Hunter Immunology Unit, insisted that a broad-based educational effort is necessary, stating that informing the public about AIDS constitutes "an enormous job" that cannot be postponed. He noted that it was counterproductive to wait for a crisis, which could lead to polarisation within the community. In related discussions, Mr Burdon condemned the comments of Health Minister Dr Bassett, who accused the Abbott blood-screening test for AIDS as scientifically unsound during a Parliament session. Burdon labeled the comments as both impertinent and untrue, asserting that the government could have implemented the test—which New Zealand’s Abbott manager claimed had been available since July—much earlier. He noted that the Abbott test had a sensitivity of 98 per cent, which was internationally recognised. Professor Sutherland reinforced this by stating the importance of screening blood for AIDS antibodies, indicating that following established standards would safeguard public health. Overall, the meeting highlighted urgent calls for enhanced public engagement and educational strategies regarding AIDS in New Zealand, in light of the risk of a potential crisis if authorities continued to downplay the issue.

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