Each year on 1 December, we invite parliamentarians to join us to mark World AIDS Day. It’s an opportunity to remember all those we lost to HIV and to ensure that action on HIV remains high on the agenda of the government and MPs. This year, which would have been Terry Higgins’ 80th birthday, we were kindly hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament.
Out of the windows of the historic ‘Speakers House’, you can see St Thomas’ hospital, where in 1982 Terry died aged just 37 – the first named man to die of HIV in the UK. In this poignant setting, we were joined by government ministers, MPs and peers from across the political parties.
We heard from Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes about the role Terrence Higgins Trust has played in her time in parliament, and from Sian Berry MP on good work taking place in her constituency in Brighton. Sir Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Paymaster General, shared progress on payments to those infected by HIV because of the Infected Blood scandal – with over 90% of those infected with HIV as a result of the scandal now having received a compensation offer from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew praised Lord Norman Fowler for his crucial actions early in the HIV epidemic and announced the new Norman Fowler HIV Fund. He committed to 'push you, Wes [Streeting], as you would expect and just as you rightly pushed us, but we will not let politics divide us on this goal.' Following this, Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched the new HIV Action Plan for England, which includes £170 million of additional funding - the biggest new investment in testing and support in decades.
Our Chief Executive Richard Angell OBE, responded to the launch of the new HIV Action Plan and the work ahead.
Wes Streeting MP launches the new HIV Action Plan for England
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP announces progress on infected blood payments
Stuart Andrew MP launches the Norman Fowler fund
Sian Berry MP praises Terrence Higgins Trust services in Brighton
Richard Angell OBE responds to the new HIV Action Plan for England
Many thanks to our host, Mr Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, our chair, Caroline Nokes MP, and our sponsor, Gilead Sciences.
Events like this give us the opportunity to bring our cause directly to decision makers, to hold them to account on their commitments and to recognise progress when it’s made.
That is only possible because of the generosity of our supporters, who make our advocacy possible. So if you can, help us continue to fight for action on HIV from the government by donating to support our work now.