Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 4

Written Answers. - HIV Infection.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

102 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on recent reports (details supplied) of complacency in relation to the reduction in the number of AIDS cases recorded and emphasising that attention should be paid to the increase in the number of HIV cases. [27399/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Cases of AIDS have decreased in recent years. This is most likely due to the availability of new treatments which slow down the progression of HIV and delay the onset of AIDS. However, despite this cases of HIV have risen with 342 new cases being reported for 2000, the highest number since reporting commenced. I agree when it is suggested that we must not become complacent.

My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Moffatt, chairs the national AIDS strategy committee, NASC, and is responsible for policy in this area. AIDS Strategy 2000 was published by NASC in June of last year and makes recommendations for dealing with HIV-AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections over the coming years. The Minister of State, Deputy Moffatt, and my Department will work to implement these recommendations through the NASC.

Since 1992 additional funding has been provided each year to health boards to address the problems of drug misuse and HIV-AIDS. Intravenous drug misuse is one of the main routes of transmission of HIV. 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 developed a range of interventions among the gay community including supporting a gay HIV prevention strategies project, aimed at lowering the incidence of HIV among this group. With increasing numbers of people presenting with a range of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, a priority in 2001 is the appointment of two new infectious diseases consultants in the Dublin area and one in the Western Health Board.

Our first line of defence must be education and prevention. My Department continues to produce a range of materials and literature and to run awareness campaigns to inform the public, especially young people, about the dangers of HIV-AIDS. Specific messages have been placed in third level colleges and some 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.