Making HIV a public health priority will save lives and money - ACET annual review

ACET Jersey, the local HIV/AIDS charity, has highlighted the challenges facing the health of the Island as figures show the number of new diagnoses of HIV has been doubling each year.

ACET Jersey's recently published annual review was discussed at the AGM on July 20^th where a new chairman, Tim Neill, was also elected to take over from Brigadier Bruce Willing. Mr Neill's first task will be to call a strategic planning day to build upon the services currently available from ACET Jersey and to identify ACET's goals for the next three years (more details at the end of the release).

The annual review pinpoints the three key public health challenges for HIV prevention and care services.

Reducing late diagnosis and undiagnosed infection
Increasing public knowledge and understanding
Improving the psychological welfare of people living with HIV

Rosemary Ruddy, a Trustee of ACET Jersey, commented:

"Making HIV a public health priority will save both lives and money. Early diagnosis and preventative education reduce onward transmission and each transmission averted saves the public purse over £280,000 in direct health costs alone. Furthermore, the longer someone with HIV remains undiagnosed, the more likely it is that they will require more complex and expensive treatment in the future."

The annual review also highlights the need for a multi-agency approach to the prevention, testing, treatment and care of HIV; the charity's HIV education and prevention programmes in 2010 which included an innovative programme called Wise Up for all staff and prisoners at HMP La Moye, as well as education programmes for young people and a Parent's Toolkit to support parents and carers.

During 2010 the charity also raised public awareness with local campaigns and a comprehensive website and provided a range of financial, practical and emotional support for people living with HIV in Jersey.

Reflecting on the review of the charity's care and prevention services in 2010 the former chairman, Brigadier Bruce Willing commented:

"At a time of economic crisis and ongoing budget cuts, ACET's HIV care and prevention services have continued to be in great demand. The impact of our work has not only enhanced the lives of people living with HIV in Jersey; it has given people of all ages and from all walks of life the knowledge and confidence they need to protect themselves and others from infection."

For further information, please contact Leah Dunford at Crystal Public Relations on tel. +44 1534 618613 or email leah@crystalpr.co.uk or visit www.acet.je

Notes to editors:
Information on Tim Neill, newly elected Chairman of ACET Jersey:

Canon Tim Neill has taken over as Chairman of ACET from Brigadier Bruce Willing. Tim and his Jersey-born wife Carol spent many years ministering in Zimbabwe in the Anglican Church.

During that time he helped establish and oversaw Chamal an NGO that addresses the needs of AIDS victims and their families in one of the poorest areas of outer Harare. He helped found, and then chaired for more than 14 years until March 2010, the Just Children Foundation that has looked after thousands of street children through their "Off the Streets, Onto the Future" programme. He also enabled the establishment of the first and only Pregnancy Crisis Centre in Zimbabwe.

In 2001 after the appointment of a pro-Mugabe bishop he left the Anglican Church and, at the request of Morgan Tsvangirai (now Zimbabwe's Prime Minister), started from scratch and then grew nationwide an NGO to care for the needs of thousands of victims of state sponsored violence and torture. The NGO has, over ten years, changed its focus to helping vulnerable marginalized groups in the society.

Tim runs Differentia which is a Management Consultancy focusing on Leadership and Organisational Quality and also ministers in the Town Church.

Revised September 2011.