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Annie Howard, HIV Confident Programme Manager, shares how HIV Confident is helping organisations turn awareness into action for Zero HIV Stigma Day.

James Cole, Senior Policy, Research and Influencing Manager, shares why the UN Political Declaration on HIV must reinforce UK action at home and abroad.

Reflections on the proposed social media ban and the role of social media for young people living with HIV.

As part of the Jo Cox Lonliness Forum’s focus on loneliness and disability, Andy reflects on how specialised HIV support services made a difference to him after his diagnosis.

Ever since the abolition of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was announced, we at NAT have heard a lot of anxiety from people living with HIV about Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is being brought in to replace DLA.

Last week the Government published the 2017 Drugs Strategy, the first national drugs strategy since 2010. The previous drug strategy was heavily criticised for its focus on abstinence, and little mention of harm reduction initiatives. The 2017 Drugs Strategy unfortunately does not go much further.

In two years, investment in community based HIV prevention decreased by over a third in London. This coincided with significant Government cuts to the public health grant. In the same period, there has been reduction in HIV diagnoses amongst MSM in some parts of the city. So, do the funding cuts to prevention matter? If we want to sustain and build on our success, then yes, they matter a lot.

Last month newspapers reported the trial and conviction of a man who had gone berserk in a Manchester hotel, during which he both caused criminal damage and bit a police officer who had been called to the scene to restrain him. Deplorable of course, though sadly not that uncommon an event. But there was a twist to this story, fastened on in newspaper headlines:

“‘Vile coward’ salesman with HIV deliberately BIT family man copper in shock hotel assault”

We’re calling on the next government to stand with people affected by HIV

The NAT appeal will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Easter Sunday at 07.55 and 21.26, and on Thursday April 20th at 15.27. In the week following its broadcast you will be able to listen to it on the Radio 4 website.

To mark International Transgender Day of Visibility and the launch of NAT’s new report Trans* people and HIV, writer and campaigner Juno Roche reflects on the barriers to good care for trans people living with HIV.

One argument you see amongst those critical or worried about the introduction of PrEP is that it will result in big increases in STIs as gay and bisexual men (and indeed others at risk of HIV) throw away their condoms. But does the evidence support such fears? And as importantly, what do those fears tell us about our views of HIV and gay sexual health?