Dick Spring
Question:96 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the specific steps being implemented at present to stop the spread of AIDS.
Written Answers. - AIDS Prevention.
Dick Spring
Question:97 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the plans he has for the introduction of a forum for the discussion of the continuing spread of AIDS among people outside the drugs and homosexual communities at the present time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. The Government's AIDS strategy, published in November 1991, sets out the current steps being taken to prevent and treat cases of HIV/AIDS. I am sending a copy of the strategy to Deputy Spring for his information.
The former Minister for Health has chaired two meetings of the National AIDS Strategy Committee, which has representatives of the voluntary agencies working with all individuals who have HIV/AIDS or are concerned about their status. The committee also includes representatives of the Government Departments with a key role in the area, for example, Justice, Education, Health as well as the Eastern and Southern Health Boards, the AIDS Fund, the Irish College of General Practitioners, treatment and virus reference laboratory services.
At the last meeting of the committee which took place on 3 February it was agreed that to further the consideration of the main issues of immediate concern a number of sub-committees should be established. There will be four sub-committees as follows:
HIV Surveillance/Epidemiology:
To consider the development of a sero-surveillance programme to determine as accurately as possible the spread of HIV by category of person by region.
To consider the provision of information by the Virus Reference Laboratory, UCD, with a view to identifying the regional spread of the infection.
Care an Management of people with HIV/AIDS:
To consider the development of appropriate arrangements for the care and management of people with HIV/AIDS at primary care and hospital levels including the development of liaison arrangements between the prison, health and welfare system. The development of policy recommendations should be carried out in co-ordination with the committee on infectious diseases in prisons established by the Minister for Justice.
Prevention:
To identify the education/information requirements (both formal and informal) needed to respond to the evolving epidemiology of the disease, with particular reference to the heterosexual community.
Anti-Discrimination:
To develop recommendations to avoid discrimination against people with AIDS/HIV.
The sub-committees are starting their work this week and after a number of meetings will prepare an interim report for me not later than end of March this year.