Inverell is taking part in an initiative to tackle the rising numbers of people contracting HIV. Hunter New England Health launched the initiative at the Inverell RSM Club last Monday.
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Inverell GPs and health service professionals met with Clinical Director of Sexual Health HNE Dr Nathan Ryder and HNE Aboriginal Sexual Health worker Annette Slater.
The project focus is on health, screening, youth education about safe sex and shattering social stigmas and beliefs associated with HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Dr Ryder said Monday’s presentation concerned how GPs might integrate HIV and STD discussion and/or screenings as part of a regular patient visit.
Dr Ryder said the presentation was how GPs might integrate HIV and STD discussion and/or screenings as part of a regular patient visit.
“A lot of it is about how you would bring up the topic of sex into a routine consultation. “That can be quite uncomfortable for GPs or their patients, to turn the consultation toward that,” Dr Ryder said.
Offering simple and routine approaches to the issue, particularly with young people was part of the talk. Dr Ryder said they were sensitive to those GPs who might feel uncomfortable with the concept of routine screenings.
He hoped they could offer those GPs the support necessary toward routine testing.
At the end of 2013, there were 26,900 people living with HIV in Australia with 1236 cases diagnosed that year.
The number has risen steadily since 1999 when the lowest number of new cases (724) was recorded. Dr Ryder said the latest school survey found about 50 per cent of youth use condoms for casual sex.
“Which means a lot of people are putting themselves at risk, unfortunately,” he said.
Making routine HIV and STD testing is key to catching the virus early.
Dr Ryder said times have changed from the early days of the disease.
“In the 80s, when HIV was a death sentence, having a test required a whole lot of counselling, and information, and it was quite scary,” he said.
“Whereas currently, HIV is a chronic, manageable disease. (For) the patients, there is a real large benefit to themselves, and finding out their status and getting on treatment early.
“So the shift is kind of more toward trying to encourage people to test away from this idea of the HIV test being a ‘special test’.”
Dr Ryder said once the patient is diagnosed, and comes to grips with their situation, they usually settle back into their normal life.