Plaid Cymru commits to ending HIV in Wales by 2026 – Terrence Higgins Trust response

Today Plaid Cymru has committed in its new manifesto to Wales being the first country in the world to end new HIV cases with a 2026 elimination target (p110).

In the latest HIV figures, 123 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in Wales in 2019 – a fall of 15% in compared to 2018. But 57% of those newly diagnosed in Wales were diagnosed late, which is significantly higher than the UK average (42%). Late diagnosis is bad for individuals’ health and also greatly increases the chances of HIV being unwittingly passed on. That’s why access to regular HIV testing is crucial.

Plaid has committed to achieving its 2026 HIV goal by:

–       Funding access to HIV prevention drug PrEP

–       Increasing access to sexual health services, information, testing and early treatment

–       Support education, research and community groups

In 2018, the Welsh Government committed to ending new HIV cases by 2030. Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s leading HIV charity, has welcomed the announcement.

Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: ‘Wales was the first country to commit to ending new HIV cases before the decade is out. We welcome Plaid Cymru’s focus on this goal with an early deadline and ambitious plan for 2026. Because this life-changing goal won’t happen by accident.

‘We look forward to working with the next Welsh Government on developing an HIV Action Plan, targeted ‘HIV Testing Week Wales’ initiative and full implementation of the HIV Commission’s recommendations for how we can end new HIV cases. We now know what we need to do to reach this goal, we just need to get on and urgently do it.’