Unacknowledged homosexuality and risky sexual behaviour is the main reason for the ongoing spread of the AIDS virus, warns leading drug and alcohol support agency Youth Projects in its World AIDS Day message.
The agency, which is based in Melbourne’s north and works with communities throughout northern and western suburbs, issued a statement ahead of the December 1 global day of acknowledgement, urging health authorities and governments to face up to the critical role played by some men in spreading the AIDS virus.
Youth Projects chief executive Melanie Raymond said it was men who have sex with men but don’t identify as gay who were currently the group most at risk.
She said HIV cases were falling among injecting drug users because they were using clean syringes.
Youth Project’s Foot Patrol program aims to prevent the transmission of blood-borne viruses, including HIV, by providing clean injecting equipment, safe syringe disposal units, condoms, safe sex information, support and referrals.
