asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by his Department to deal with the threat of AIDS.
Written Answers. - AIDS Threat.
14.
A wide-ranging series of measures have been taken by the Department of Health to combat AIDS since it was identified. Measures have been taken to monitor the number of AIDS cases and the level of infection in the community. The blood supply is screened for the virus and blood products for haemophiliacs are heat treated. Seminars have been held around the country for health care staff and literature on AIDS disseminated to them. The public have been educated about AIDS through a national campaign which also provided those particularly at risk with more detailed information through a booklet and telephone service. A voluntary and confidential HIV testing service is available throughout the country.
I recognise that special measures are required in relation to IV drug abusers and towards this end I have allocated £450,000 as a special measure from the national lottery sources to fund an AIDS prevention and intervention programme aimed primarily at this group. The major project to be funded is an Eastern Health Board pilot outreach programme which involves statutory and non-statutory agencies working with drug abusers and is aiming to educate and inform IV drug abusers and their families about AIDS and to encourage them to present for treatment. My colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, Minister for Education, and I have agreed that we should concentrate upon the educational system this year.
A group of officials from both our Departments is currently preparing a long term AIDS programme for secondary schools. While that programme is being prepared and to ensure that children leaving school this year have the facts about AIDS I asked the Directors of Community and Care-Medical Officers of Health to co-operate with local school managements in providing AIDS education to ensure that no child should leave school without being aware of the facts of AIDS and I am happy to report developments in this area.
In addition, the Department of Health is continuing to provide information of a general nature to the public to maintain an awareness about the spread of AIDS.
This is being done through a poster campaign advertising the confidential phone service and an information booklet on the basic facts about how AIDS is spread.