Ceist:
67 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures, if any, he has to promote public awareness of the risk of HIV infection and AIDS. [19846/97]
Written Answers. - HIV and AIDS.
I am aware that there is a continuing need to promote public awareness of the risk of HIV infection and AIDS. For many years now, my Department has been working to address this issue. Initiatives developed by the health promotion unit of my Department include information literature, training programmes and mass media campaigns.
Mass media campaigns involving radio, television and newspaper advertisements, with a strong message emphasising the use of condoms in reducing the risk of sexually transmitted HIV, have in the past been formulated and transmitted. Such campaigns are usually transmitted to coincide with World AIDS Day and Irish AIDS Day. To mark World AIDS Day 1997 the health promotion unit of my Department in conjunction with the education and prevention sub-committee of the national AIDS strategy committee is organising a conference in Dublin Castle on 21 November. This conference will review the communication strategies that have been employed to date to create awareness about this virus and will make recommendations for future awareness raising initiatives.
My Department's narrowcast advertising initiative (convenience advertising) continues to be very successful. This initiative involves the placement of AIDS awareness and sexual health messages in washroom-toilet areas of third level colleges, selected entertainment venues, pool halls and community centres. As a media strategy this campaign shows high rates of recall and succeeds in reaching the target audience with appropriate messages. The messages are continually reviewed and updated.
The unit has also produced an AIDS education video entitled "Don't Turn Away". The video deals with how transmission of HIV occurs and with ways of preventing infection. It has been widely distributed to health boards and other selected outlets. Recognising the fact that attitudes and behaviours acquired early on in life greatly influence patterns of behaviour in later life, an AIDS education resource pack for second level schools was developed by the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science, in the early 1990s. Its dissemination was accompanied by training seminars for teachers. As well as providing information, the pack aims to encourage amongst students a mature attitude in assuming responsibility for their own health and the health of others. In order to support school and community based AIDS education programmes, the health promotion unit disseminates information literature and posters relating to HIV and AIDS. These resources are distributed widely to health and education agencies and other relevant agencies.
My Department is very aware of the role of the voluntary sector in HIV-AIDS education and prevention and supports projects and initiatives carried out by voluntary organisations. In order to support the work of AIDS educators and workers in the statutory and voluntary sector, the health promotion unit has organised training seminars and information days and also published a set of Guidelines for Effective HIV/AIDS Education.
I am also very conscious of the link between drug misuse and AIDS and since the publication of the national AIDS strategy in 1992, which identified the close connection between HIV/AIDS and intravenous drug misuse there has been an emphasis on putting in place a comprehensive treatment network for intravenous drug misusers in order to prevent the spread of HIV in this way. The most recent statistics for HIV show that 45 per cent of positive cases are intravenous drug misusers. Intravenous drug misuse is confined in the main to the Eastern Health Board, which has been engaged in a major expansion of its services in order to eliminate waiting lists for treatment. The board at present provides drug treatment services in six addiction centres, 15 satellite clinics and a mobile clinic in the Greater Dublin Area. Services, which are available at these facilities may include education, counselling, HIV testing, needle exchange and methadone treatment.
Specific educational initiatives in place to tackle substance misuse are a video entitled "My Best Friend"; a substance misuse prevention programme entitled "On My Own Two Feet" and a national youth health programme which develops and implements health education initiatives in the non-formal education sector.
The community health division of my Department is providing financial support for the position of project director who will assist with the implementation of the recommendations of the GLEN/NEXUS report on HIV prevention strategies and the gay community. This report is based on a study of the needs and capacity of gay community organisations to carry out effective HIV prevention work.
You may be assured that my Department will continue to use appropriate communication strategies and to work closely with the statutory and voluntary sector in raising public awareness about the HIV virus, risk of HIV infection and the resultant consequences of infection including developing AIDS.