HIV ON THE RISE IN THREE AUSTRALIAN STATES
AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL AIDS STRATEGY MUST BE REVITALISED

Rises in HIV infection rates in the states of Victoria, Queensland
and New South Wales have reinforced the need for a major
revitalisation of Australia's response to HIV/AIDS, according to the
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO).

Latest figures for the year 2002 show that the rate of new HIV
infections rose by seven per cent in Victoria, and by twenty per cent
in Queensland. HIV figures being finalised for New South Wales are
also indicating a rise in new infections.

Last year some 700 Australians became infected with HIV, with gay
and bi-sexual men making up the majority of these new HIV
infections. The HIV infection figures from Victoria reflect the
third successive year there has been rise in new infections in that
State.

AFAO National President Bill Whittaker said that the rises in
infection rates were significant and must be acted on:

"The increase that first occurred in Victorian HIV infection figures
during 2000 and 2001 have occurred for the third year in a row and
we now see rises in Queensland and in NSW. These three States
make up almost 90 per cent of the national HIV/AIDS caseload. So
a worrying national pattern appears to be emerging," he said.

AFAO says that the reasons for this situation are complex and
multifaceted. They include declining Commonwealth and
State/Territory government leadership and funding; rises in sexually
transmitted infections and in unsafe sexual practices; declines in
regular HIV testing; and possibly from misunderstandings about
treatments and vaccines under development being "cures".

"This upward trend in new infections is by no means confined to
Australia," Whittaker said. "There have also been recent increases
in HIV infection rates in a number of comparable countries in
Europe and North America. Overall, the declines in HIV infection
rates that characterised western countries in the 1990s are now
starting to trend in the other direction in a significant number of
countries.

"The warnings have been there for some time about Australia's
vulnerability to new HIV infections. To its credit the Commonwealth
Government recognised this vulnerability and commissioned a
review of Australia's National HIV/AIDS Strategy early last year.
The review's reports and recommendations were handed to the
Health Minister last November.

"However, it is very disappointing that after six months the
Commonwealth Health Minister has not yet released the review
reports, nor has the Minister indicated how the review's
recommendations are to be addressed. This delay is causing a
loss of morale and uncertainty about the future of our AIDS
response."

"AFAO understands that the review calls for a major shake up of
Australia's AIDS response - particularly in the area of HIV
prevention - and for the early implementation of an upgraded
National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

"We call on the Minister to release the reports and provide a
roadmap for bringing in a revitalised National HIV/AIDS Strategy
without further delay," Whittaker said.

Whittaker pointed out that Australia has been widely praised for its
very effective response to the HIV epidemic over the past 20 years.

"Australia is at risk of losing its international reputation as a
world and regional leader in HIV/AIDS if it allows the current
situation to continue," Whittaker said.

"We are still doing many things right and we should not lose sight
of this. But this rise in infections is a wake up call to all in the
AIDS partnership - National and State/Territory Governments,
community based organisations, and the medical and research sector -
that we need to revitalise our efforts in the face of new
complexities in our work.

"We look to the Commonwealth Government to lead a cooperative
response to this challenge, consistent with the leadership role it
has played in responding to HIV/AIDS over the past 20 years."

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AFAO MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday, May 29, 2003.
AFAO is the peak non-government organisation representing Australia's
community-based response to the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. AFAO's members
include the State and Territory AIDS Councils, the Australian IV
League, the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS and
the Scarlet Alliance.