The Medical Foundation
for AIDS & Sexual Health (MedFASH) is a charity
dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the healthcare
of people affected by HIV, sexually transmitted infections
and related conditions. It undertakes a range of projects
to support health professionals and policy-makers.
MedFASH acts as
a catalyst for change by harnessing the strengths of the
medical profession and the multidisciplinary workforce
in responding to these challenges. We develop and disseminate
information and practical guidance for health professionals,
foster communication and collaboration within and beyond
the healthcare sector, and build links between practice
and policy.
Our current and recent activities include:
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Our primary focus
is on policy and practice in the UK. We also engage with
UK-based initiatives relating to the international HIV
epidemic. We believe we should find more opportunities
for sharing our learning with international agencies and
colleagues overseas.
Without affiliations
to any one medical specialty, we are well placed to have
an influence across the whole medical profession and to
encourage joint working between specialties to address
HIV and sexual health issues. Our links with a range of
medical bodies, including the support of the British Medical
Association, give us a credible voice with doctors and
policy-makers.
As a small organisation, we seek to maximise our effectiveness
by working in partnership with others, including voluntary
sector and service user organisations as well as those
for health professionals.
The following values
and principles underpin all our activities.
We exist to benefit people at risk
of, or affected by, HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) and related conditions. We will:
- promote equity
and respect, and combat stigma and discrimination,
in all settings and services and with all population
groups,
- adopt and promote
a human rights-based approach.
We seek to promote a multi-disciplinary
and multi-specialist approach to HIV and STI prevention,
treatment and care, recognising equal value in the roles
of all disciplines and specialties involved.
We value the views of service users
to inform our own work and support the involvement of
affected groups in planning and monitoring service delivery.
We are committed to approaches to HIV and STI prevention,
treatment and care that are based on the best available
evidence
HIV is still on
the increase in the UK and the incidence of other sexually
transmitted infections is rising rapidly. Internationally,
HIV is recognised as a global emergency, and high rates
of other sexually transmitted infections foster its spread.
Health professionals have an important role to play in
prevention, treatment and care, but the challenges are
many and varied. Social exclusion and stigma hinder prevention
and access to treatments.
The emergence of new drug therapies has led to a major
reorganisation of HIV services in the UK, and there can
be difficulties providing even basic health care in some
developing countries.
The Medical Foundation for AIDS and Sexual Health aims
to support health professionals in meeting these challenges.
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