Christina McKelvie MSP lends support to World AIDS DAY 2016

 

Every year on the 1st December people across the globe mark World AIDS Day: the international day to remember the 35 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS-related illnesses, to prevent new cases of HIV and to stand in solidarity with people living with the virus.

As part of the campaign ‘What will you do?’ Christina pledged to ‘Uphold and strengthen existing human rights for people affected by HIV’.

Commenting further, the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP said:

“The rate of new HIV infections in Scotland has remained the same for the last ten years; on average one person every single day is diagnosed.

“This is despite new infections being entirely preventable.  That is why upholding and strengthening existing human rights for people affected by HIV can make a huge difference to the future HIV infection rates in Scotland.”

“It’s important to know that when a person is adhering to treatment, the amount of virus in their body can become undetectable meaning that the virus will not be passed on. 

“Treatment is of course only possible if a person knows their status- access to testing needs to be made easier. We already know how to prevent HIV being passed on, for example using condoms and not sharing needles; and now we have PrEP, which involves taking medication to prevent HIV infection. 

“If this becomes available on the NHS it has the potential to be game-changing in reducing the number of new HIV infections.”