HIV estimates for 2018 in Ireland using Spectrum, UNAIDS-supported modelling tool
HPSC, October 2019
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre worked closely with UNAIDS to develop these national estimates using statistical modelling methods and available HIV surveillance data.

HPSC - Weekly HIV & STIs Report – Week 40 - 2019
Latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows that 400 HIV notifications have been reported in Ireland to date in 2019.

High levels of engagement in care by children and young people with HIV in the UK and Ireland
Aidsmap.com, 10 October 2019
A new study reports good results for the paediatric cascade of care in the UK and Ireland. Almost all young people have some engagement with care, 92% are taking HIV treatment and 86% are virally suppressed. 

Global Fund Donors Pledge US$14 Billion in Fight to End Epidemics
The Global Fund, 10 October 2019
At the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment Conference, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has raised US$14.02 billion for a three-year period (2020–2022) – the largest amount ever raised. Ireland pledged at least €45 million to the Global Fund, doubling our contribution over the next 3 years.
And related:
UNAIDS thanks all donors for pledging full funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, 11 October 2019

Funding the Harm Reduction Response: Stepping up the fight to end AIDS among people who use drugs
Medium.com, 7 October 2019
Funding and political support for harm reduction is in crisis around the world. If we are serious about ending AIDS and combating hepatitis, we must invest in services that save lives. 

'I have HIV, but HIV doesn't f***king have me': Gareth Thomas wins Game Changer Award
GCN, 10 October 2019
Gareth Thomas delivers powerful speech after winning the Game Changer Award at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards 2019.

Celebrity HIV disclosures whittle away at stigma
Openly, 4 October 2019
Despite recent HIV disclosures by celebrities, HIV campaigners and medical experts say the fight is far from won.

No-deal Brexit threatens the health of UK citizens living with HIV in other European countries
Aidsmap, 4 October 2019
There is little clarity about how UK citizens living in the European Union will continue to get HIV treatment in the event of a no-deal Brexit, posing risks both for individuals living with HIV and public health.

Impressive results from Zimbabwe’s national HIV sex worker programme
Avert, 9 October 2019
Zimbabwe’s HIV programme for sex workers, ‘Sister with a Voice’, has significantly increased HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression among women who sell sex.

New York Says End of AIDS Epidemic Is Near
New York Times, 2 October 2019
Experts in the field say that the progress being made in New York is the result of a number of factors, including the use of PrEP and the rapid initiation of antiretroviral drugs for those newly diagnosed with HIV.

Study: UNAIDS HIV targets will be missed among men who have sex with men in Africa
News Medical, 8 October 2019
Despite improvements in HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Africa, many are missing out on HIV treatment.

Can Grindr Screen Time Be Used To Reduce HIV Risk?
Forbes, 5 October 2019
A new study from the University of California San Diego used “on-screen” time with Grindr to correlate with risky sexual behaviour and substance abuse. By identifying high risk men, researchers hope it will improve public health efforts to reduce HIV.

Rapid treatment start doesn't benefit all
Aidsmap, 9 October 2019
A French study finds that the period between HIV diagnosis and achieving an undetectable viral load has decreased substantially in recent years, but warns that an early start to treatment should not be a hasty start.


PrEP
Taoiseach and Ministers for Health announce HIV PrEP programme
Press Release, Department of Health, 10 October 2019
A national HIV PrEP programme will commence in Ireland from 4^th November. The programme will initially be provided in a number of STI clinics and will expand in 2020 with €5.4million from Budget 2020 for full roll-out.

HIV Ireland says it's a "red letter day" in the fight against HIV, following announcement of national PrEP programme
Press Release, HIV Ireland, 10 October 2019
And related:
Irish Times; The Medical Independent; GCN; Irish Examiner; TheJournal.ie; Independent.ie; Irish Mirror; Newstalk.

Estimating the ‘PrEP Gap’: how implementation and access to PrEP differ between countries in Europe and Central Asia in 2019
Eurosurveillance, Volume 24, Issue 41, 10 October 2019
This paper uses EMIS-2017 data to estimate the number of MSM in the EU who would be “very likely” to use PrEP if it was available and affordable to them.

California Makes PrEP and PEP Available Without Prescription
Advocate, 7 October 2019
Pharmacists in California will be able to dispense PrEP and PEP without a prescription beginning next year under a bill signed into law on 7^th October, making it the first state in the U.S. to do so.
And related: The Guardian; Los Angeles Times.


Sexual Health
Women to have access to free contraception from 2021 – Minister
Irish Times, 10 October 2019
Minister for Health Simon Harris has told the Dáil that free contraception for women will be available from 2021,

U.S. STI Epidemic Hits an All-Time High
Poz.com, 8 October 2019
The CDC reports that new diagnoses of STIs have continued their steady upward trajectory in the U.S., with combined cases of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis hitting a record high of 2.5 million cases in 2018.


Conferences and Events
Positive Sexual Health Conference 
Taking place on Friday 1^st November, in Dublin’s Mansion House, this event is being led by Youth Work Ireland's 'Sex Talk Team' who are a group of passionate and active young people with one clear aim - to make sex education for young people, by young peoplel and to young people!

National Drugs Forum 2019
The Health Research Board and the Department of Health will host the 2nd annual National Drugs Forum in Croke Park on 5th of November.  The theme of the forum is Inclusion Health: Responding to the complex health needs of people who use drugs. 

Civil Society Dialogue: Achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights for all
Save the Date: 6^th November 2019
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) invite contributions to a civil society dialogue. The gathering will create a space for meaningful engagement between the state and civil society on the key work that needs to be undertaken by Ireland to fully realise sexual and reproductive health and rights in both a local and global context.

SSSTDI Autumn Meeting
The 2019 Autumn meeting of the SSSTDI will take place in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin on 22^nd and 23^rd November. Call for abstracts is now open.

The Irish Aid Annual Professor Michael Kelly HIV and AIDS Lecture
The Irish Global Health Network is facilitates Irish Aid’s Annual Father Michael Kelly HIV and AIDS Lecture. This year’s theme is Women, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, and the event takes place on 28^th November 2019, in Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.

World AIDS Day 2019, UNAIDS
The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "Communities make the difference".  The event, which takes place on 1^st  December 2019, is an important opportunity to recognise the essential role that communities have played and continue to play in the AIDS response at the international, national and local levels. 

HPE Conference 2020: Call for abstracts
HIV Prevention England will be hosting the national HIV prevention conference on Tuesday 18 February 2020 in central London. Registration for the conference will open in November 2019 and attendance is free for all those working in HIV prevention. The call for abstracts for oral presentations, poster presentations, and interactive workshops at the conference is now open and all submissions are due by Friday 25^th October 2019. 

AIDS 2020
Registration is now open for the 23^rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020). Taking place from 6^th to 20^th July 2020, the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS will be hosted simultaneously in two neighbouring cities, San Francisco and Oakland, U.S.