Liz McManus
Question:71 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health the number of times the AIDS committee has met in the last 12 months; and the future plans, if any, he has in relation to this committee.
Written Answers. - National AIDS Strategy Committee.
The national AIDS strategy committee meets when there are pressing issues which it needs to consider and the committee is in fact meeting today, 11 May. The work of the committee is divided into four sub-committees — care and management, prevention and education, HIV surveillance and anti-discrimination and these sub-commitees meet as required to deal with issues which arise. For example, the HIV surveillance subcommittee has been meeting every two months during the past 12 months.
As indicated in the health strategy which has just been published the recommendations from the national AIDS strategy committee form the basis for Government policy in relation to the provision of services for persons with HIV-AIDS and the closely related problem of drug abuse. I greatly value the advice and recommendations made by the strategy committee and will continue to seek their advice in the future.