Health Secretary Wes Streeting has declared that the UK is in an extraordinary position to end new HIV transmissions within the next five years, as the government unveils a major new strategy.
A Legacy of Loss and Stigma
Writing for The Mirror on World AIDS Day, Streeting reflected on the devastating impact of HIV in the 1980s. He noted that a diagnosis once shattered lives, families, and communities, with gay men facing a particularly frightening combination of illness and societal prejudice.
Many people spent their final days isolated and without comfort, pushed into the shadows by clinical misunderstandings and deep-seated stigma. Stories of lost sons, daughters, partners, and friends long before their time were a tragic hallmark of the era.
Medical Progress and a New Ambition
Thanks to huge medical advances, the landscape has transformed. People living with HIV can now lead long, healthy, and happy lives. This progress has led to the profound ambition of ending new HIV transmissions altogether, a goal Streeting believes is within reach by 2030.
He credited the progress to decades of determined work by campaigners, charities, and advocacy groups. However, he was clear that this big ambition would require hard work from the government.
Confronting Stigma with a New Action Plan
Despite medical progress, Streeting emphasised that stigma remains a significant barrier. It prevents people from getting tested, makes them afraid to speak openly, and leads to too many late diagnoses. Late diagnosis compromises health and increases the risk of transmission.
The new HIV action plan, backed by £170 million, is designed to tackle this. For the first time, there will be coordinated national efforts to find and support people in England living with HIV who have struggled to access care and treatment.
The plan will continue the successful programme of testing for HIV in everyday NHS settings like A&E departments, helping to ensure more people are diagnosed early. This testing will also cover Hepatitis B and C.
At its heart, the plan is about fairness, dignity, and access. It aims to ensure every person, regardless of background, receives the care, support, and respect they deserve. With compassion and determination, the government believes it can work to end not just HIV, but the prejudice and ignorance that accompany it.
