As World AIDS Day approaches on 1 December, new research has found that one in seven young people in the UK would not be willing to remain friends with someone diagnosed with HIV 1. To help raise awareness and overcome the stigma surrounding the disease, Jean Lambert MEP joined a group of cross-party London politicians yesterday to prepare meals for housebound HIV sufferers.
After volunteering with The Food Chain 2, an organization that delivers meals to 350 people in the capital every Sunday, Jean Lambert said:
“Being diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness is devastating and on top of that many people face being stigmatized because of the lack of understanding surrounding HIV and AIDS. With rising numbers of new diagnoses year-on-year there should be further investment in education to reduce infection rates and increase comprehension of the disease.”
Lending her support to The Food Chain, Jean Lambert continued:
“As well as the right medication, good nutrition is vital for those with weakened immune systems. The Food Chain provides a crucial service for housebound HIV and AIDS sufferers, helping to improve their quality of life. New volunteers are always welcome.”
Photos from The Food Chain event on Sunday 25 November are available on request.
Note to Editors
1 The survey was undertaken by Ipsos Mori and commissioned by the British Red Cross.
2 Background on The Food ChainThe Food Chain began serving meals on Christmas day 1988. It continues to provide meals and grocery boxes to those living with HIV. The Food Chain exists to ensure that those living with HIV in the UK have access to good nutrition to help them regain their health and stay well. For further information about the charity and the event please call Rhiannon McCorkindale on 020 7354 0333.
3 Facts on HIV and AIDS in the UK from AVERT www.avert.org
HIV infection ratesThe annual number of newly diagnosed HIV infections in the UK rose steadily throughout the Eighties, wavered between 2,500 and 3,000 during most of the Nineties, and began to increase dramatically in 1999. By 2005, the annual number of newly diagnosed infections was 7,662 – nearly double the figure recorded in 2000.
GenderAt the end of 2005, an estimated 63,500 adults were living with HIV. Of the estimated 33,600 heterosexuals, some 20,200 (60%) were women. The male to female ratio of HIV diagnoses made before 1989 was more than 10 to 1, whereas in 2005 the ratio for new diagnoses was around 3 male to 2 female.
Age groupPeople in the age group 25-34 years have accounted for 43% of all HIV diagnoses in the UK, as of the end of June 2007.
EthnicityIn 2006, 7,093 reported HIV diagnoses were made in the UK. Among the 5,756 people whose ethnicity is known, 43% were white, 46% black-African, 3% black-Caribbean and 8% of other or mixed race.
Transmission routeAs of the end of June 2007, 45% of diagnosed HIV infections resulted from sex between men, 41% from heterosexual sex, 5% from injecting drug use, 2% from mother-to-child transmission, 2% from blood/tissue transfer or blood factor, and 5% from other or undetermined routes.
In which countries are people infected with HIV?The presumed countries of infection for people with heterosexually-acquired HIV, diagnosed in the UK, are shown in the table below. This does not necessarily mean that these people come from these countries – just that they were infected in them. The list includes not only high-prevalence African countries, but also popular holiday destinations.
Rank 1992 1997 2002
1 Uganda UK Zimbabwe2 UK Uganda UK3 Zambia Zimbabwe S.Africa4 Kenya Zambia Uganda5 Zimbabwe Kenya Zambia6 DR Congo Nigeria Nigeria7 Tanzania DR Congo Kenya8 Malawi Thailand Jamaica9 Spain Malawi Malawi10 USA S.Africa DR Congo