It is disappointing to read “in a recent audit only 66% had had an annual test”. Clinics should be offering this as standard treatment, together with quarterly or 6 monthly syphilis tests, even when a risk assessment may not suggest these tests are necessary.
This underlines the importance of peer support and education so that individuals are empowered to ask for these tests and get the best treatment and care available.
As stated an annual Hep C test is very important as HCV / HIV co-infection is an important factor in poorer outcomes for HIV+ individuals.
The message for regular testing cannot be stronger – prompt diagnosis will always lead to better outcomes.
I guess resources have to be targeted at the group which are most affected by both viruses – stigma can come from within the gay population and the general population – as we see with HIV. Co-infected individuals are a minority within a minority group, so they are more likely to become marginalised and therefore this adds to poor understanding and ultimately stigma is attached to Hep C / HIV.
Probable because funding to put awareness programs into place is incredibly hard to come by, it is seen as better to target a higher risk group I guess.
HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C are not gay problems, they can affect anybody and while treatments have improved greatly since the 1980′s, prevention is still better than cure.
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It is disappointing to read “in a recent audit only 66% had had an annual test”. Clinics should be offering this as standard treatment, together with quarterly or 6 monthly syphilis tests, even when a risk assessment may not suggest these tests are necessary.
This underlines the importance of peer support and education so that individuals are empowered to ask for these tests and get the best treatment and care available.
As stated an annual Hep C test is very important as HCV / HIV co-infection is an important factor in poorer outcomes for HIV+ individuals.
The message for regular testing cannot be stronger – prompt diagnosis will always lead to better outcomes.
Why don’t we do blood tests on all the population annually then we wouldn’t have stigma? Targeting gay men seems to cause the stigma in the 1st place.
I guess resources have to be targeted at the group which are most affected by both viruses – stigma can come from within the gay population and the general population – as we see with HIV. Co-infected individuals are a minority within a minority group, so they are more likely to become marginalised and therefore this adds to poor understanding and ultimately stigma is attached to Hep C / HIV.
Probable because funding to put awareness programs into place is incredibly hard to come by, it is seen as better to target a higher risk group I guess.
HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C are not gay problems, they can affect anybody and while treatments have improved greatly since the 1980′s, prevention is still better than cure.
What a load of bollocks
Someone told you that lie and you believed it huh?
…Hmmm…religious bigot believes everything they tell him about their religion….hmmm…”Funny that”…
…”Wonder why?”…..
“Funny then that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t get AIDS. Wonder why?”
You ARE trying to be funny, aren’t you? I mean, you’re not THAT stupid, surely?
Their doctrines on blood, marriage and promiscuity ensure that strict adherence will result in full protection from AIDS.
Jealous Rob?