HIV and AIDS on the rise in Oldham

CASES of AIDS and HIV are at their highest ever in Oldham — and still rising.

Up by almost a quarter in a year, there are now 110 sufferers, new figures have revealed.
There was one case of a mother passing the condition to her baby, out of a total of 27 new cases in 2007.

The figures are from the Health Protection Agency and Liverpool John Moores University’s annual report.

Oldham’s new cases buck the North-West trend — new cases dropped by 10 per cent across the region.

Most transmissions in Oldham last year were among heterosexuals (70 per cent), followed by gay men (22 per cent).

At 27, the total of new Oldham cases is almost a third higher than the 2006 increase of 21.

All local cases have risen by 100 per cent since 2003 when there were 55 in Oldham.

The total number of North-West cases is also at an all-time high, up 9 per cent to 5,212 in 2007, but the regional rate of increase is slowing — new cases last year dropped by 10 per cent (817) compared with 2006.

And researchers warn that mother-to-child transmission rose by 200 per cent in the North-West in the decade to 2007.

Although the figure is low at 21, they say the majority of cases occurred overseas. They are linked to heterosexually-infected women with HIV migrating to the UK.

However, regional deaths from HIV have reduced dramatically, from 9 per cent of total cases in in 1996, to less than 1 per cent in 2007, mainly due to advances in anti-retroviral treatments.

Debra Malone, associate director of public health with Oldham Primary Care Trust, said: “We are concerned.

“HIV, which leads to AIDS, can affect people of all ages and from all backgrounds. However, by taking simple steps it is possible to avoid it.

“We encourage safe sex, always using a condom. Drug users should avoid sharing needles and syringes.

“Across Oldham we have a good range of services to help people keep themselves safe.

“These include free condoms, pharmacy-based needle exchange schemes and sexual health improvement outreach workers.”




How the PCT aims to cut cases
Trained advisers provide sexual health advice and condoms to under-18s at youth clubs and adults at 16 GP practices.



The PCT has invested in specialist advice service Brook to provide outreach sexual health services to young people.

There are family planning clinics across Oldham and the PCT has opened a new sexual health clinic at Glodwick Primary Care Centre which is open on Fridays from 10am to 12.30pm.

The Greater Manchester wide RU Clear? Programme has been successfully running in Oldham since October, 2006.

Oldham PCT also leads a local sexual health commissioning advisory group, which is looking at reducing the incidence of STIs, promoting chlamydia screening, reducing teenage conceptions and providing a wider range of sexual health services.