London is a world leader in reducing HIV according to public health experts

This article was taken from: http://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/News/london-world-leader-hiv

By National Health Executive News

London is a world leader in reducing HIV according to public health experts

London is now a world leader in reducing HIV according to the public health experts behind the capital’s new summer prevention campaign.

The latest Do It London campaign – run by the city’s boroughs as part of the London HIV Prevention Programme (LHPP) – will run over the summer and autumn and promote to Londoners the ways to prevent HIV.

The LHPP is a unique partnership of 32 local authorities, which is delivered on their behalf by Lambeth Council.

According to the most recent data from Public Health England (December 2018), there was an overall 37% reduction in new HIV diagnoses in the capital since boroughs began the Do It London public campaign in 2015.

Among men who have sex with men (the group most affected by HIV in London) that figure reduced by 40% in the same period.

This progress has seen the capital become one of the first global cities to exceed the UN’s worldwide diagnosis and treatment targets.

Having pledged to achieve zero HIV transmissions, zero deaths and zero stigma by 2030, London will host the first ‘Fast Track Cities’ international gathering in September, with representatives of more than 250 cities responding to HIV.

Such forward progress has led to the belief that the UK capital can achieve its pledge by 2030.

Cllr Ray Puddifoot, London Councils’ Executive Member for Health & Care, said: “London is now not just a national but a global leader in HIV prevention.

“Through collaborating and jointly funding the Do It London public health programme, London boroughs’ commitment to tackling HIV has made a major contribution to the capital’s record of success.

“This approach ensures strong and consistent messages are communicated to Londoners about HIV prevention.

“London can achieve zero new HIV infections by 2030 if current trends continue. To maintain positive progress, it’s crucial that Londoners keep making safer choices – and that’s why our latest Do It London campaign is so important.”

Lead commissioner of the LHPP, Paul Steinberg, called the reductions in HIV diagnoses in recent years very promising.

However, he was keen to add: “This is no time for complacency. That’s why London boroughs continue to work together to encourage everyone to prevent HIV in order to achieve our ambitious target of zero new infections by 2030.”