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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 5

Written Answers. - HIV Infection.

Seán Power

Question:

308 Mr. S. Power asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who have died here from AIDS each year for the past ten years; and the Government's plan to reduce the number of deaths. [19271/02]

The number of people who have died in this country from AIDS each year for the past ten years is set out in the table below:

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Total

42

44

44

46

34

7

21

17

13

3

271

As can be seen from this table, the number of AIDS related deaths has steadily decreased during this period. This is due, at least partly, to the impact of highly effective anti-retroviral treatments which were introduced in 1996. These treatments slow down the progression of the disease, hence people infected with HIV do not develop AIDS as quickly as before. However, the incidence of new cases of HIV has been increasing in recent years.
AIDS Strategy 2000 was published in June 2000 and makes recommendations for dealing with HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections over the coming years. My Department through the National AIDS Strategy Committee and its sub-committees on education and prevention, surveillance and care and management are currently working to implement these recommendations. My Department produces a range of materials and literature and runs awareness campaigns to inform the public, especially young people, about the dangers of HIV and AIDS. Specific messages have been placed in third level colleges, night clubs and pool halls.
My Department is also a partner with the Department of Education and Science in the implementation of social, personal and health education, SPHE, at post-primary school level. The relationship and sexuality education programme is an integral component of SPHE. Health boards fund voluntary organisations that provide education and prevention as well as counselling and befriending services. Since 1992 additional funding has been provided each year to health boards to address the problems of drug misuse and HIV and AIDS. HIV has been strongly linked with intravenous drug misuse. To respond to this health board services include methadone treatment and needle exchange in the range of services for drug misusers. These services have seen significant expansion in recent years, particularly in the health boards in the east where the majority of drug misusers reside. Health boards have also developed a range of interventions among the gay community aimed at lowering the incidence of HIV cases among homosexuals.
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