Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and HIV Prevention

Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 3:12 pm on 17 October 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:12, 17 October 2018

Well, look, for those people who have started to take PrEP, we're really encouraged about the fact that no-one who was in that cohort has got HIV since starting. That's really important. But, as I said in my oral statement, we've been looking to get to people with the highest risk, and, so, we found other sexually transmitted infections within that group. That shows we're actually getting to the right sort of people. We've also found people who have had undiagnosed HIV, and they then have been supported in actually receiving appropriate treatment, and that's what we do need to do to make sure people are engaged in services that are built around them, that understand the needs they have to properly support them and people around them to make sure they live the best life possible, because I, too, remember when HIV and AIDS were made widely known—and I was a child—I remember the adverts on tv, and the fear and the stigma that that created. And, actually, to have a message that if you seek support and treatment, then you can live a good life and you can still have a proper life to live, it does not mean that your life is over—the stigma and the fear are still there. So, that is still a job of work for us to do, and I'm genuinely proud that here in Wales we've taken a progressive approach.

I've seen news in your area of the world, with the Argus, this week, printing an article actually talking about the situation in England, where they still have charities wanting a more reputable process than fundraising to provide PrEP to other people. I'm really pleased that I was able to take a decision here in Wales for full nation coverage on an equitable basis, driven by need, and need alone.