Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department are taking steps to (a) support community-based organisations that work directly with at-risk populations to provide targeted HIV prevention and support services, (b) encourage research and development on HIV prevention, (c) encourage (i) social media platforms, (ii) influencers and (iii) celebrities to promote accurate information on HIV, safer sex practices and testing, (d) support black-led organisations that focus on HIV prevention, education and support and (e) consult with black-led organisations on HIV prevention strategies.

HIV Prevention England (HPE) is the national HIV prevention programme for England and is funded at £3.5 million by the Department. The programme aims to support communities who are disproportionately affected by HIV, including gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men and Black African heterosexual men and women. The Department has appointed Terrence Higgins Trust, a national charity who provide services related to sexual heath and HIV, to deliver the programme from 2021 to 2024. HPE delivers a nationally co-ordinated programme of HIV prevention work, including public campaigns such as National HIV Testing Week, that is designed to complement locally commissioned prevention activities in areas of high HIV prevalence. HPE also aims to improve knowledge and understating of HIV transmission and reducing stigma within affected communities.

HPE works with a wide range of models and their network of influencers and develops its strategies based on comprehensive data, audience insight and knowledge from local partners within England which ensure a wide range of patient’s voices and experiences are represented including with black-led organisations. Campaigns are promoted using a multi-channel approach including specialist channels relevant to the audiences and targeting via digital platforms and social media.