Brighton & Hove Gets Fast Track City Status

Brighton & Hove is set to become the first UK city to have “Fast Track City” status approved by the international committee International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the City of Paris.

This means working across the city to achieve:

  • 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) knowing their HIV status
  • 90% of PLHIV who know their HIV-positive status on antiretroviral therapy (ART)
  • 90% of PLHIV on ART achieving viral suppression
  • Zero discrimination and stigma

The Martin Fisher Foundation has been working closely with Brighton & Hove City Council, and as a result Brighton and Hove will be the first city in the UK to achieve United Nations Fast Track City Status.  This initiative to hasten the elimination of HIV/AIDS by 2030 is led by Mayors and city governments in over 65 cities around the world.

Chair of the Martin Fisher Foundation, Adrian Brown commented:

Achieving United Nations Fast Track City status for World AIDS Day will re-energise the community in Brighton and Hove in the fight to combat HIV/AIDS.

There has never been a better time to work together Towards Zero HIV thanks to the new opportunities offered by PrEP[1], where at risk individuals can effectively protect themselves from acquiring HIV by taking a single tablet daily.

Daniel Yates, Chair of the health and wellbeing board in the city and a city councillor for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean: 

I am really impressed with the work that the Martin Fisher Foundation has undertaken with all partners so far in developing the Towards Zero HIV strategy. It is right that today on World Aids Day the strategy is launched for broader public consultation. Together as a city we can achieve Zero stigma, Zero HIV related deaths and Zero HIV transmission – but everyone has to play their part in developing the strategy and delivering the ambition.

The Martin Fisher Foundation was launched last year to provide a structure for the huge amount of good will and determination felt by many people across the community in Brighton and Hove and beyond, to progress the inspirational work and innovative research in HIV which Martin Fisher had developed. His vision was for Brighton and Hove to become a Fast Track City and we’re delighted we’re on track to achieve this. The ultimate aim is to have a city without HIV/AIDS in the future.

The Martin Fisher Foundation vision is to move TOWARDS ZERO HIV stigma, ZERO new HIV infections and ZERO deaths from HIV in Brighton and Hove by 2025. It is currently working with stakeholders to develop a ‘Towards Zero HIV’ strategy and implementation plan that will set out ways in which everyone can contribute to these important aspirational goals.

The draft strategy was reviewed and endorsed at a Stakeholders meeting on Friday 25th November attended by a wide range of charities, and services providers who support those living with HIV or vulnerable to HIV in Brighton and Hove.  It is now available as a consultation document for the public.   The document will be updated and finalised in early 2017. Members of the public are encouraged to give their feedback by 25th February 2017. It will then be approved by city-wide stakeholders including Brighton & Hove City Council.

[1] Pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day.

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Public consultation: Towards Zero HIV strategy

The Martin Fisher Foundation vision is to accelerate TOWARDS ZERO HIV stigma, ZERO new HIV infections and ZERO deaths from HIV in Brighton & Hove by 2025. We have released our consultation document for feedback by 25th February 2017. You can read the document here »

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