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Media Release - 2 December, 2009
‘HIV is still here’
Marking World AIDS Day 2009, Family Planning NSW and the Sydney South West Area Health Service
(SSWAHS) Heterosexual HIV/AIDS Service - Pozhet, launched a new video awareness campaign to remind
young people that HIV is still present in our communities.
The campaign features quotes from people of different ages and backgrounds, who are living with HIV.
A
survey conducted last year, showed that a large number of people between 18 and 29, not only knowingly
engage in risky sexual behaviour, but lack facts when it comes to HIV and sex.
“The rate of HIV transmissions may be declining in some groups across NSW, but the total number is still way
too high,” says Dr Ellie Freedman, an HIV specialist and medical education co-ordinator for Family Planning
NSW.
The survey revealed that 57 per cent of those who responded, have had sex without using a condom in the
past two years. Of that majority, 84 per cent are aware that this is high-risk behaviour, with potential HIV
consequences.
Dr Roger Garsia, Head of HIV services at RPAH and Chairman of the peak NSW Government Advisory
Committee on HIV says “all people, particularly young people, need to understand that HIV is still here and
affects men and women, people of all ages, cultures, religions and ways of life.”
Quotes from the video are from the National Centre in HIV Social Research’s study - Men and Women living
heterosexually with HIV.
The video is available on YouTube and Facebook. It will be distributed to Statewide media outlets and local
health organisations, for further distribution and website uploads.
Visit the official World AIDS Day website for more information and resources: www.worldaidsdaynsw.org.au
Media enquiries FPNSW: 0447 376 791
Media enquiries SSWAHS: 0409 243 544
Family Planning NSW has been helping people make informed choices about their reproductive and sexual health for
more than 80 years. We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation focusing on the contribution to, promotion,
collection and dissemination of reproductive and sexual health knowledge, information and learning to people in NSW.
Family Planning NSW has clinics operating in Ashfield, Fairfield, Penrith, Newcastle, and Dubbo, providing medical
services, health promotion and reproductive education to thousands of men and women every year
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