Saturday, November 22, 2008
Bum Chums Wanted
HIV still effects the gay community more than any other group in the UK. Gay men make up 63% of all new HIV infections and over 95% of these are from bum sex. This World AIDS Day on December 1, Gay Men Fighting Aids (GMFA) are rallying support in the battle against HIV. The gay men’s health charity is asking for a renewed commitment from gay men to prevent more gay men becoming infected with HIV. Individuals can make a difference by becoming GMFA’s Bum Chum. By becoming a Bum Chum you’ll be committed to preventing the spread of HIV among gay men, take responsibility for your own sexual safety and support GMFA’s HIV education and awareness work.
Matthew Hodson, Head of Programmes at GMFA (Gay Men Fighting Aids) said,
“We’re asking people to feel proud and committed in supporting gay men,”
“HIV is transmitted more easily by anal sex than vaginal sex and this is partly why gay men account for such a huge proportion of the infections that occur within the UK. The Bum Chum campaign is more than just fundraising, it’s about making a commitment to preventing the spread of HIV, and about supporting HIV information campaigns and education. We want people to stand up and say, ‘This matters to me and to my community. I’m doing something to prevent HIV in gay men’.”
Mr GAY UK Dino Gamecho, ex Big Brother housemates and the Left footers football team, have shown support for the campaign.
To become a GMFA Bum Chum, visit www.gmfa.org.uk/bumchum or you can donate £3 by texting BUM to 82540.*
Data from the Health protection Agency shows that there have been over 39,000 diagnoses of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK. In 2006, an estimated 31,100 men who have sex with men (MSM) were living with HIV in the UK.
An estimated 2,700 newly diagnosed cases of HIV among MSM were diagnosed in 2006, and 21,700 HIV positive MSM accessed HIV-related treatment and care services.
MSM continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV and account for 63% of diagnoses where the infection was probably acquired in the UK.
