Havering (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Havering residents will soon benefit from easier access to HIV prevention medications, as local health services expand efforts to improve community health.
HaveHaveringring Council is pleased to be a part of a pilot program that will make HIV prevention medication more widely available to more residents.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, can cut the risk of contracting HIV through intercourse by 99 percent when taken as prescribed.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation is funding two pilot projects with more than £1 million in collaboration with Fast-Track Cities, Gilead Sciences, and ViiV Healthcare.
North East London (Havering, Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Hackney, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest) is the location of the first, and three UK cities are the location of the second.
By 2030, London hopes to have zero new HIV cases thanks to the experiment.
The pilot includes a focus on addressing the stigma associated with HIV and PrEP, and fostering inclusivity through training and community outreach.
Cllr Gillian Ford, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said:
“PrEP is a powerful tool in the drive to end HIV transmission, but we know that some of those who are at higher risk of contracting HIV are still not accessing this vital preventative treatment.
By pairing targeted community outreach and engagement efforts with new ways to access PrEP, the Elton John Aids Foundation will support efforts to tackle HIV stigma, increase awareness of PrEP, and ultimately mean that more Havering residents can benefit from this medication.”
North East London has some of the highest HIV rates in the nation.
Over the next 18 months, the project aims to help an additional 3,000 people in the region obtain PrEP.
A digital tool for online assessments, mail kits, and PrEP clinics in general practitioner offices and community settings are just a few of the creative ways the trial will advertise and distribute PrEP.
Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said:
“The Foundation has proven experience of designing and funding successful pilots that go on to achieve impact at scale. At a time when public health budgets are under pressure, we believe these pilots will show that investing in prevention is not only life-saving but also cost-effective, reducing the long-term burden on the NHS by averting new HIV infections before they occur.
If the UK is to meet its goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030, it is essential that the new HIV Action Plan, set to be published by the UK government this summer, prioritises PrEP access, along with HIV testing and strengthening high-quality HIV care.”
What is the process for HIV testing and treatment in Havering clinics?
People can self-refer to sexual health services at clinics locally, like Barking Community Hospital or Harold Wood Polyclinic.
Participants can receive either testing via blood tests, which are sent off to a lab, and you’ll receive results in two to three days, or through rapid finger-prick testing, which can provide results within about 20 minutes. Some clinics will provide home self-sampling kits for men, women, and adolescents, are free to use, and you can send your samples away to be analysed.
The tests are screening for HIV antibodies and antigens, but the tests used in clinics are generally the fourth-generation lab tests, in order to provide an accurate diagnosis as early as possible. Counselling is provided before and after testing to guide the patient through the process and to explain results.