Home News Launch of innovative HIV prevention fund

Launch of innovative HIV prevention fund

0

New national funding for local voluntary-led HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) prevention projects to target groups at higher risk of HIV.

Public Health England is encouraging all voluntary organisations to apply for national funding to enable innovative HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) projects across England.

Despite major advances in treatment, HIV remains a major public health concern. There are an estimated 107,000 people living with the virus in the UK, of whom around a quarter (26,100) are unaware they have HIV and are at risk of unknowingly passing on the virus to others.

The risk of infection is higher in certain groups of the population; men who have sex with men (MSM) and black African communities. However, targeted and innovative local initiatives can reduce the risk of people catching or passing on HIV.

The new national fund will support local projects that offer new and innovative ways of delivering HIV prevention, aiming to turn around the ever increasing numbers of new diagnoses among certain groups of the population. Applications are encouraged from voluntary sector organisations for projects that target groups at high risk, to be supported by their relevant local authority.

Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said:

“While HIV rates overall are in decline it is worrying that they continue to rise in men who have sex with men, as do rates of other STIs.

“We want everyone to enjoy good health so we need to be more bold and ambitious in how we tackle this issue. So I am very interested to see what innovative ideas come out of this exciting new fund.”

Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England said:

“Local partners are key to successful activities to reduce HIV within the most at-risk groups and it is fantastic to see that already over 30 expressions of interest have been received for projects across the country.

“This fund will support local voluntary-led projects that offer a fresh approach to delivering HIV prevention. This represents an opportunity for local areas to further benefit from national support in addressing the rates of HIV within their communities.”

The application phase for the new national HIV prevention innovation fund opens on Monday 29 June, running until the 31 July 2015. Applications are encouraged from voluntary sector organisations that focus on those groups at higher risk of HIV. The total available fund for 2015 to 2016 is up to £500,000. Those interested in the fund are asked to register at hiv.prevention@phe.gov.uk.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here