Compiled
and edited
by Martin Flynn
Bernard Forbes of the UKC said: "There is invisibility and a lack
of political clout for positive people. But on the other hand we also
have to support people's wish to live 'normal' lives while having HIV."
Everyone agreed that inventing yet another HIV organisation would not
help. "There is so much we agree on already and we need to swap information
between our separate organisations," said Paul Ward of THT.
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"More money for fewer orgs"
NHS restructuring may signal the end of small HIV community-based organisations
in the UK, predicts Will Huxter of Islington Primary Care Trust (PCT).
Huxter's speech about the new NHS restructuring, and the worry that fewer
organisations will be funded in the future, set alarm bells ringing for
many of the small African organisations that attended the recent National
African Communities HIV Prevention Conference.
"Don't fund everyone at inad-equate levels, that's the new philosophy.
It's much better to consistently fund a few," said Huxter.
"Changes to the NHS will always happen," he added, assuring
the conference that "the NHS has a duty to respond to African communities,"
and that the devolution to PCTs should be seen as "an opportunity,
not an excuse".
Twenty eight strategic health authorities will now administer 'performance'
management for the NHS, Huxter explained, and although HIV prevention
work would now be left to the discretion of local PCTs, there would be
a review of current
investment and provision for GUM clinics.
