Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Leader on wearing a red ribbon today. Yesterday was World AIDS Day. It is 40 years since the discovery of AIDS and the start of the epidemic. I would like to place on record the memory of all those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses and reiterate the message of U=U, or undetectable equals untransmittable. This is the scientific fact that if you are on effective treatment for HIV, you cannot pass it on to your partner. I also encourage people to get tested not just for HIV, but to know their sexual health status. Cases of sexually transmitted infections, STIs, are very much on the rise, since many our sexual health services were closed during the pandemic. Pre-exposure prophylaxsis, PrEP, which many campaigned for over a number of years, is also available through those services. It is antiretroviral medication that is taken daily or on an event basis, and has been effective across all populations. I encourage everyone to educate themselves and each other so that we can end and eradicate stigma.

Prior to Covid, Ireland had the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in Europe, showing the need for testing and investment in sexual health services, education and outreach. As a whole, the world is off track in delivering the shared commitment to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. I will read some figures. In 2020, there were 37 million people living with HIV, 1.5 million new HIV infections and 680,000 AIDS-related deaths. According to UNAIDS, around 65% of HIV infections globally were among sex workers and their clients, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people and their sexual partners. Even before the Covid pandemic hit, many of the populations most at risk were not being reached with HIV testing, prevention and care services. There are obvious and very disturbing parallels between access to HIV treatment and access to Covid-19 vaccines. It is estimated that between 1997 and 2006, 12 million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in low and middle income countries because the price of medicines was too high and out of reach for most countries affected by HIV.

The third sustainable development goal aims to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Unrelenting political commitment is needed from Ireland and the world in order to achieve that goal.