Búsqueda personalizada

HIV Prevention Services Face Shake Up

A radical overhaul of HIV prevention services for gay men in London is expected following the conclusion of the contract tendering process.

The gay men's health charity the GMFA will no longer be running HIV prevention advertising campaigns in London.

London advertising campaigns will now be delivered by Terrence Higgins Trust, which who also holds the contract for providing advertising campaigns on a national basis.

THT also gained a part of the groupwork contract. Counselling services and outreach work will now be provided by a consortium comprising the Metro in Greenwich, West London’s Gay Men’s Project and Positive East.

GMFA won the contract to produce small media resources, such as postcards and booklets.

A few programmes of work remain with the current providers, including the condom provision scheme that is operated by Camden and Islington’s Good Sexual Health team, GMFA’s websites and FS magazine, and the groupwork provided by PACE.

“We’re really pleased that our websites, which provide information to over 20,000 individuals each month, have been commissioned again," said GMFA’s Matthew Hodson.

"We’ve got some exciting plans over the next few years to make our sites even more accessible and interactive, including a video-clip demonstrating the correct way to put on a condom and a platform for men to submit their own sexual health questions."

“Although we haven’t been contracted to produce advertising campaigns or our HIV prevention groupwork,” said Matthew, “We are still committed to tackling all areas where gay men suffer from health inequalities."

"I am really happy that we have funding to continue to run our stop smoking courses for gay men, which have some of the highest success rates in the country."

"I also hope that we will be able to find funding for some of our other work, such as the highly respected gay men’s Assertiveness course, and our Self Defence courses for gay men," he adds.

THT and NAM have also joined forces to provide treatment information for people living with HIV. Contracts were also awarded for targeted work with African communities who, like gay men, disproportionately are likely to be affected by HIV.

"We have also recently started work on a new project that is designed to address some of the health inequalities that are experienced by Black gay men and we hope to be able to continue with our work for gay men living with HIV," adds Matthew.

For more information on the courses run by the GMFA go to www.gmfa.org.uk

Author: Joanne Oatts

GaydarNation