Waverley Care hosted a Scottish Parliament Reception yesterday evening to mark the launch of our new national campaign, #GetToZero. The campaign is aimed at achieving zero new HIV transmission in Scotland by 2030.
Yesterday evening, Waverley Care called on the Scottish Government to do more to get Scotland to zero new HIV transmission by 2030. Our national campaign, #GetToZero, is calling for everyone in Scotland to play their part in helping to reach zero new HIV transmission by 2030. Through the campaign, we want to see members of the public getting behind the cause by taking a test and knowing their HIV status, challenging HIV stigma, and being aware of important prevention methods such as PrEP.
The event hosted by Paul O’Kane, Scottish Labour MSP for West Scotland, saw speeches from Nicky Coia (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) and Grant Sugden (Chief Executive of Waverley Care), as well as powerful stories from people living with HIV about their lives and diagnosis.
Paul O'Kane, Scottish Labour MSPWe must continue to have those conversations and have them loudly enough so that the Scottish Government will listen and realise that the measures the #GetToZero Campaign are calling for can be delivered.
The #GetToZero campaign follows commitment from the Scottish Government that Scotland will have zero new HIV transmission by 2030. However, the campaign is calling on the Government to do more to ensure Scotland reaches this goal.
At a point in history where Scotland could become one of the first countries in the world to end HIV transmission by 2030, Waverley Care called on the Scottish Government to act now and:
- Introduce opt-out bloodborne virus testing in emergency departments, an initiative proven to be successful in England and Wales in finding people living with undiagnosed HIV
- Establish a Scottish National HIV testing week
- Provide universal and barrier-free access across Scotland to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for everyone who needs it.
Grant Sugden, Waverley Care’s Chief ExecutiveWhile we have a proud history in Scotland as a global leader in HIV prevention and treatment, we still need to do so much more to challenge stigma and ensure we do all we can to end HIV transmission by 2030
Play your part in getting to zero!
Click the button below to find out more about how you can get behind the #GetToZero campaign.