I am pleased to say that this intervention has been very successful to date and that there have been no new cases of HIV among those receiving PrEP. Between January and October 2021, 1,301 people accessed PrEP. However, during the pandemic, PrEP use has declined. There are many possible reasons for this, but the Welsh Government will be working with partners, including the Terrence Higgins Trust, on a campaign to increase knowledge of PrEP in Wales, to encourage its use and to improve access to PrEP.

New HIV cases in Wales are on a downward trajectory. It is imperative that this downward trend continues. It’s also important that new cases of HIV are diagnosed early and that patients receive the highest standards of care. In 2019—. I apologise. In 2021, there were over 2,300 people resident in Wales who were accessing HIV care. This number will continue to grow as more people know their HIV status and can access effective treatment.

When on treatment, a person with HIV has an undetectable viral load, the person cannot pass on HIV and they can expect to live a long and healthy life. Despite this being the case for many years, there is still a lack of awareness generally among the general population, and there are still many misconceptions about HIV. HIV is a chronic condition. People with HIV should feel able to be open about their HIV status as they would be with any other condition, without the fear of judgment or being treated differently. We must eradicate stigma in the workplace, in schools and health and social care settings. I expect everyone to be fully informed on HIV and HIV stigma, and the Welsh Government will be working with the education and health sectors in order to achieve this.

My officials have established a task and finish group to provide advice and leadership on the development of an HIV action plan. The aim is to publish the plan in the first half of 2022. The plan will contain focused, measurable actions that aim to make a huge impact on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and stigma relating to HIV. As soon as the plan is agreed and costed, I will make a further statement about timescales for taking the recommendations forward.

As well as supporting the NHS to recover and move forward following the exceptional challenges over the last two years, it’s essential that we continue to act to maximise fairness for all and eliminate inequality, stigma and prejudice at every level of society. Working with partners across the health services and academia, as well as third sector bodies such as the Terrence Higgins Trust and Fast-Track Cities, which have a lot of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that Wales can lead the way. I look forward to updating you on further progress regarding these commitments in the programme for government, and our targeted efforts to reduce the transmission of HIV here in Wales.