Volume 1

Saving lives : our healthier nation / presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health by command of Her Majesty, July 1999.

  • Great Britain. Department of Health
Date:
1999
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Saving lives : our healthier nation / presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health by command of Her Majesty, July 1999. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    9.7. HIV infection and AIDS remain serious threats to health. Because of early prevention efforts we have fared better than many other European countries. France, for example, has four for the oming HIV/AIDS times as many people with HIV as the UK. But we cannot be complacent. Last year saw the highest number of new HIV strategy will cover ee infections ever in the UK at nearly 3,000, almost twice the figure testing and treatment of a decade ago. So we must continue to promote messages as well as prevention’ about safer sex, both to the general public and those specific groups who are at particular risk of HIV infection. While new treatments are improving both the length and quality of life for HIV patients, there is still no vaccine or cure. And there are signs that some patients may not respond well to the new drugs, particularly over long periods. So our forthcoming HIV/AIDS strategy will cover issues of testing and treatment as well as prevention. It will be developed within the frameworks set out in The new NHS and Modernising Social Services. Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain 9.8 Drug misuse is associated with poor health both directly, for example through the effect of overdoses and the spread of infection (specifically HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C); and indirectly, because of the link with social exclusion through homelessness, poverty, unemployment and criminal behaviour. And the problem is frighteningly widespread. Percentage Last occurrence Fi Cala illicit drugs* ba] Last year Fin Last month Men and women aged 16-29 years old, England and Wales 1996 *Mainly cannabis and amphetamines Source: Home Office (see References Section)