NZAF Tust Board chair Andrew Sweet The NZ AIDS Foundation has formally stated its intention to become more involved in improving the overall health of men who have sex with men, despite struggling with a tight funding environment. At its AGM this afternoon the Foundation acknowledged that it is struggling to live within its financial means given that it has had no increase in its annual government funding for the past six years. Taking inflation into account "this effectively means we have had a ten percent decrease in real terms," the Foundation's chair, Andrew Sweet, said. He doubts that an increase in government funding will be available for several years yet but advised that the NZAF was continuing to make strong representations to the Ministry of Health, stressing the value of its work. The annual accounts presented this afternoon showed that, on a total income of just over $4.5 million, the NZAF had a surplus of just $6,000 for the year ended 30 June, 2013. The NZAF has attracted almost $200,000 more funding from non-Ministry sources in the past year than it did in the previous year, in line with its stated goal of generating income from other sources. (A previous version of this news story incorrectly stated the non-government income had dropped rather than increased). Speaking at this afternoon's AGM both the chair and the chief executive highlighted concerns about the over-representation of gay and bi men in health issues such as heart conditions, sexually transmitted infections and alcohol and drug abuse. Some of the health issues are down-stream effects of HIV infection and others can lead to an increased risk of contracting HIV or progression to AIDS which can still be fatal, said Executive Director Shaun Robinson. "As people live with HIV for twenty years and more we are discovering more about what that means," he said. Robinson said confronting issues such as stigma and discrimination against those with HIV, which could lead to poor mental health, are also a target. He recounted the recent example of a man newly-diagnosed with HIV who refused to go on life-saving medications which might indicate to some people close to him that he had HIV. He subsequently died needlessly. Sweet advised that the Foundation sees itself as having an advocacy role in improving gay and bi men's health. "We're hoping to be a catalyst to encourage gay and bi men to take up these issues and to put pressure on the public health system" to acknowledge and respond to the health problems, he said. The NZAF will also be looking for innovative ways it's existing support and counseling services could further address the issue, Robinson said.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 23rd November 2013 - 8:35pm