‘Ending HIV’ Campaign Launched in Queensland
THE latest public health initiative to combat and raise awareness of HIV and AIDS that incorporates a greater spectrum of safe sex and risk reduction strategies has been officially launched in Queensland.
Ending HIV was the joint initiative between the AIDS Council of New South Wales (ACON) and the NSW Government and has now become a national campaign.
It aims to focus on the need for regular testing, early treatment of HIV-positive individuals and encouraging safe sex between men who have sex with men.
The campaign, launched last Sunday during the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities World AIDS Day event, plans to educate about the realities of and recent improvements in the area of risk reduction, where using a condom isn’t the first preference in practicing safe sex.
The campaign predominantly advocates the usage of condoms as the safest means to prevent the spread of HIV, but wants to engage with changing practices within the community.
Ending HIV also aims to educate the community about rapid-testing procedures that have been rolled out across the state, which shorten waiting times for HIV diagnosis to half an hour.
“The campaign…speaks to us in a language that we use, that’s free of shame and free of blame,” QAHC Men4Men campaign director Michael Scott said.
“It encourages gay men and the wider LGBTI community to be involved and encourages our entire community to spread the word about ending HIV.”
