Fri 27 Sep 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
NZAF Executive Director Shaun Robinson Gay men's vital health needs are being ignored by a health system that is homophobically arrogant, according to the boss of the NZ AIDS Foundation. Speaking on health risks and rights at today's national HIV Treatment Update conference, Shaun Robinson told the gay and bi men present that their health needs, both HIV and non-HIV related, are being ignored and it is time they found their voices on the subject and took action. Robinson said there are an increasing number of diseases and conditions which are "over-impacting gay and bi men" and the lack of research and resources is "doing serious harm, even killing gay and HIV positive men." He highlighted that 83% of new syphilis cases in New Zealand are amongst men who have sex with men, representing "a ten-fold increase in a decade." Robinson said the instance of gonorrhoea has gone up by 35% in the national population between 2011 and 2012 but had soared a staggering 114% amongst men who have sex with men in the same period. "Ghonorrhoea is now a gay men's disease," he said, highlighting the recent discovery of highly treatment-resistant strains in this country. And Hepatitis C is now at its highest levels ever, with the highest number of annual diagnoses reported this year "and we're only up to September!" Highlighting other health issues as diverse as alcohol, drug and mental health problems and HIV-related cardio-vascular disease, Robinson says gay men's health issues are generally ignored by the health system, with "a lack of research and no support." Ignoring the very high health risks of gay and bi men is "a sign of an immature health system," he said. Robinson is urging gay and bi men to educate themselves about their specific health risks, test regularly for the infections and conditions, use condoms to guard against sexually transmitted diseases, maintain good health and spur health authorities into action by getting "a little bit angry."