Scottish Health Minister Earmarks 7M Pounds to Battle HIV

Scottish Health Minister Susan Deacon announced on Jan. 11 a "battle plan to fight AIDS," the Scottish Daily Record reports. Under the plan, the government has budgeted 7 million pounds to screen unborn babies, implement needle-exchange programs, provide HIV testing for adults and develop safe sex services. Funding will also be used to prevent the spread of hepatitis C and other "blood-borne viruses" (Scottish Daily Record, 1/12). In addition, health boards will be encouraged to make clinics more "gay friendly," and will campaign to raise individuals' awareness of contracting the disease while travelling abroad. In 1999, Scotland had 157 new cases of HIV, the lowest recorded number since 1994 (BBC, 1/12). Despite the reduction in new diagnoses, Deacon said, "Annual figures throughout the 1990s did not show consistent reductions. This is why we must continue to be vigilant." She added, "HIV is a national health problem. It deserves -- and will get -- national attention." In the past 15 years, 1,150 Scots have died of complications associated with AIDS, and almost 3,000 have tested positive for HIV or developed "full blown" AIDS (Scottish Daily Record, 1/12).