The Medical Foundation for AIDS
& Sexual Health is a charity which works with
policy-makers and health professionals, to promote excellence
in the prevention and management of HIV and other sexually
transmitted infections. We are supported by the British
Medical Association.
We undertake a range of projects
and work in partnership with others, in order to influence
policy and offer advice to doctors and other health professionals.
Our current and recent activities include:
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).
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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