The Martin Fisher Foundation (MFF) continues to work in partnership with other HIV organisations in Brighton & Hove towards ZERO HIV stigma, ZERO new HIV infections and ZERO deaths from HIV. Our aim, to work collaboratively and support shared HIV prevention and treatment goals across the city, is gaining momentum year on year as we move towards ending new HIV transmissions and eliminating HIV stigma by 2030.
July 21 of this year saw the launch of the worlds’ first International Zero HIV Stigma Day. The event held in Jubilee Square in Brighton & Hove was organised by the Towards Zero HIV Taskforce, a partnership between Brighton & Hove City Council, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, MFF, the voluntary sector, including Terrence Higgins Trust and Lunch Positive, and members of the community. The joyous and sometimes moving event united people and communities, raised awareness and provided opportunities to tackle HIV stigma head-on.
“We want EVERYBODY to know that if everyone tests for HIV, commences HIV treatment if diagnosed, or accesses effective HIV prevention if negative, then we can end new HIV transmissions.”
Of course, HIV stigma doesn’t stop at Zero HIV Stigma Day – there is still work to do to continue our efforts to make HIV Stigma a thing of the past:
- Talk openly about HIV, no more whispered conversations. While it is important to respect the confidentiality of individual people, talking openly about HIV as a long-term health condition will help minimise stigma.
- Challenge HIV stigma when you see or hear it, direct people to resources with up-to-date information such as our website
- Sign up to be an HIV Ally – MFF will keep you updated with local activities and information, visit our website and sign up.
We want EVERYBODY to know that if everyone tests for HIV, commences HIV treatment if diagnosed, or accesses effective HIV prevention if negative, then we can end new HIV transmissions. In 2022 we created a concise animation which has been viewed over 26,000 times. The animation was co-produced with clinicians, HIV community workers, members of the public and people with HIV and is being used in healthcare education, on websites, and in school education packages. It’s completely free – can you help us get to 100,000 views by sharing widely?!
To encourage self-testing our digital vending machines remain available at eight locations across the city. Tests are free and confidential – you can choose either a 20-minute rapid HIV self-test or an STI screen to return in the post. In the last 12 months, 2,500 kits have been dispensed with users reporting confidentiality, privacy and instant access as the main benefits.
Due to the high prevalence of HIV Brighton & Hove, and because we’re a Fast Track City, local NHS services have received funding from the government to implement opt-out HIV testing in the Emergency Department since April 2022. From the start we worked closely with community groups to ensure anyone newly diagnosed would be quickly linked in to support services. We have identified seven new people living with HIV who may not otherwise have been diagnosed and are now able to access daily treatment and unable to pass the virus on to anyone else. In parallel we’re running a testing pilot in eight GP practices in the city where anyone having a blood test is routinely offered an HIV test.
All these projects have been important in normalising HIV testing and reducing HIV related stigma.
Co-designed by the community and clinicians, the EmERGE mHealth apps form an integral part of care pathways for those living with stable HIV and for those taking PrEP. Both apps provide the user with access to important health data, appointment scheduling, interactive calendar, medication details and a two-way messaging service allowing direct contact with healthcare professionals at the clinic.
Initially working with communities across Europe, the ‘core’ app now has over 800 users. The technology is highly secure and confidentiality remains at the centre of the service provision. Now that PrEP is approved on the NHS, many sexual health providers are experiencing waiting lists and capacity constraints. EmERGE mHealth Limited worked with the Terrence Higgins Trust and clinicians to develop a PrEP app. Operational for nearly two years with over 600 users, user feedback is very strong.
In both cases, Core and PrEP, user visits to the clinic are reduced thereby relieving capacity for those in greater need. As a result, Brighton & Hove Sexual Health services have never had a waiting list for potential PrEP patients. These innovations could not have been achieved without community involvement.
You must be logged in to post a comment.