More than 100 HIV experts have reached consensus on what they believe is integral to achieve and sustain the virtual elimination of HIV in Australia.
In a study from Monash University and Western Sydney University, experts caution that a long-term plan is needed to complement existing strategies to achieve virtual elimination.
The position paper was commissioned by Health Equity Matters and the National Association of People with HIV Australia, and has been published in the Lancet HIV.
It outlines steps the experts have agreed on to achieve and sustain the virtual elimination of HIV, with measures covering prevention, testing, research and treatment.
It found there was a strong consensus among experts that accessible biomedical, behavioural and structural prevention were important to achieve and sustain virtual elimination. There was also strong agreement for increasing the capacity of publicly funded sexual health clinics, sensitivity training around migrant and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and a need to address the disproportionate burden of HIV cases in these communities, while also reducing stigma.
“We are in a globally unique position, with Australia recording the fastest declining rates of HIV transmission in the world, so we have a real opportunity here to create a pathway towards virtual elimination of transmission and then to sustain this achievement,” Health Equity Matters’ CEO Dash Heath-Paynter said.
Professor Jason Ong, the lead researcher on the study and Director of Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, said the publication was globally significant.
“Australia’s experience offers a global blueprint for the elimination of HIV transmission. It’s a powerful reminder that with sustained investment and innovative approaches, public health milestones once thought unattainable can become a reality,” Professor Jason Ong said.
Virtual elimination is defined as recording fewer than 91 new cases a year. The Australian Government has committed to reaching this goal by 2030.
“This new research shows careful planning will ensure Australia not only meets that target, but sustains it and gives other countries a framework to use when they get to the stage of planning for elimination,” Dash Heath-Paynter said.
“As Australia nears virtual elimination of HIV, our focus must evolve to address the changing needs of priority populations, including culturally tailored interventions for migrant communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Professor Jason Ong adds,
“There was broad consensus on improving education, particularly among international students. HIV transmission rates from the past five years show gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who were not born in Australia now make up for more new cases than Australian born GBMSM.
The experts involved in the study agreed it was important to remove laws that perpetuate stigma surrounding HIV, including removing legislation that criminalises HIV transmission.
The paper warns the people most vulnerable to prosecution for HIV-related offences are also priority populations at risk of transmission.
“Legislation that creates barriers for people living with HIV deter people from testing and receiving treatment, and only drives stigmatisation of HIV.”
“An important part of the strategy to achieve virtual elimination will be through increased testing and earlier treatment initiation among people newly diagnosed with HIV,” Dash Heath-Paynter said.
Media contact: Kathleen Ferguson – 0421 522 080