Study details how HIV is a factor is social exclusion

The government must tackle the social exclusion of people with
HIV by more joined-up thinking across departments dealing with
them, a new Terrence Higgins Trust report has urged.

The report Social Exclusion and HIV says: “To break any cycle of
HIV and social exclusion people with HIV must be put before the
separate departmental and organisational agendas of government
departments, health authorities, social services and voluntary
groups. The lack of joined-up thinking by those in authority is a
key component in contributing to social exclusion.”

The report, the first of its kind to make a direct link between
social exclusion and HIV, recommends the government establish a
cross-departmental working party to tackle social exclusion and
HIV.

It also suggests that health and social care professionals
receive information and training to ensure that they understand the
reality of living with HIV and are able to respond appropriately to
people with HIV who use their services. It also calls on the
National Asylum Support Service to stop dispersing asylum seekers
with HIV to areas lacking appropriate support.

The estimated 40 per cent increase in HIV between 1999 and 2003
is likely to impact disproportionately on London, with a predicted
54 per cent increase in south east London.

Terrence Higgins Trust chief executive Nick Partridge said: “The
report clearly illustrates the waste of human potential of people
with HIV, who have as great a contribution to make to society as
anyone else in the UK.”

He added: “This is not just a matter of health, but cuts across
many government departments, all of which need to take action to
stop this waste. It is a problem that can easily be addressed
through co-ordinated action.”

The report Social Exclusion and HIV can be obtained from Jamie.Kinniburgh@tht.org.uk