Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines and resources for HIV and sexual health sector

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) has created the biggest public health challenge in living memory. As the NHS continues to respond to the pandemic, the HIV and sexual health sector has adapted quickly to continue to support the populations it serves.

Our health systems and services delivered by the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector are finding new ways to deliver care and support by telephone, online and via their communication channels.

The following information provides sector guidelines for people working in HIV and sexual health, including resources for communities in response to the challenges coronavirus have presented.

Guidelines for health and sector professionals

British HIV Association (BHIVA)

British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH)

Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FRSH)

FRSH, BASHH and BHIVA

The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH)

Community resources and information

Terrence Higgins Trust

NAT (National AIDS Trust)

NAM

i-base

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), Migrants Organise, and Medact

Correlation Network, Europe

International

World Health Organisation (WHO)

UNAIDS

As new information arises we will update accordingly.

Manchester launches new HIV campaign

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HIV: Let's sort this together.

The PaSH Partnership (BHA for Equality, George House Trust, and LGBT Foundation) have launched a new campaign which aims to end new cases of HIV in Greater Manchester.

Launched at the HIV Commission Hearing Session on 13 February 2020, the HIV: Let’s sort this together campaign is part of the first phase towards Greater Manchester’s ambition of ending all new cases of HIV within a generation by reducing transmissions, late HIV diagnoses, and eventually new diagnoses of HIV. This is an important part of the Greater Manchester Population Health Plan for residents to have the best start in life, and to live and age well.

The campaign

The campaign motivates residents of Greater Manchester to take charge of their sexual health and plan a safer, more enjoyable sex life in a number of ways:

  • TEST: Encourage residents to test regularly for HIV by providing information on how and where to test.
  • MANAGE: Advise those who test positive for HIV how to manage their HIV treatment and receive the support they need to reach undetectable and, therefore, untransmittable viral levels (U=U).
  • PREVENT: Inform and encourage methods such as PEP, PrEP, and condoms and lube.

The campaign is promoted via:

  • social media and digital advertising
  • radio and out-of-home advertising
  • the Sort HIV website
  • merchandise for community events
  • PR

Get involved

Community leaders, faith leaders, GPs, sexual health clinics and other stakeholders are invited to take part by:

  • Using promotional materials such as print-ready posters and flyers, waiting room screens and digital assets, including email footers, website banners and desktop wallpaper – access via Dropbox.
  • Sharing the campaign on your social media channels and through internal communications.
  • Telling service users and community members about SortHIV.org.uk, where they can access information about HIV and prevention as well as links to order home testing kits.
  • Using the hashtag #SortHIV to talk about the campaign on social media.

HPE Conference 2020

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HPE organises a conference to bring together professionals working in HIV prevention and sexual health in England, as well as other key figures and influencers in the field of HIV. The 2020 conference took place on Tuesday 18 February in central London.

Download the programme [PDF]

Coming soon: conference presentations

Morning conference sessions

Opening plenary

  • Welcome: Adam Winter, Public Health England.
  • Keynote Speech: Bruce Richman, Prevention Access Campaign.
  • The HIV Commission: Dame Inga Beale, HIV Commission.
  • Progress towards getting to zero transmissions, zero deaths and zero stigma due to HIV in the UK: Dr Valerie Delpech, Public Health England.
  • Chair: Ian Green, Terrence Higgins Trust.

HIV testing: Breaking barriers, driving access

  • Changing trends of HIV risks among MSM in London: Dee Wang, Spectra and The GMI partnership
  • Reducing barriers to HIV self-testing among black Africans: George Halfin, Terrence Higgins Trust
  • Incentivised HIV testing at food banks: Anne Glew, The Brunswick Centre
  • A reflection of seven years of HIV testing during National HIV Testing Week in Croydon: Denise Dixon (On behalf of Fred Semugera) Croydon Council

Afternoon conference sessions

Ensuring PrEP access and uptake in key populations

  • Attitudes and factors determining PrEP uptake in London: Dee Wang, Spectra and The GMI partnership
    MobPresh: women, PrEP and sexual health: Amelia Thorp, Yorkshire MESMAC
  • Are MSM using PrEP safely? Results from an online questionnaire: Greg Owen, I Want PrEP Now
  • PrEP and Prejudice: PrEP initiative for BA communities: Juddy Otti, Africa Advocacy Foundation
  • Reflections from a woman PrEP user: Haru Majengwa

STIs and sexual health: what’s working to reach highly affected groups

  • STI diagnoses among asymptomatic MSM in community testing services: Alissa Ferry, Positive East and the GMI partnership
  • Increasing STI e-testing uptake among black queer men: Phil Samba, PrEPster
  • Different community models to reach key populations in the North of England: Wellington Moyo and Pat McCusker, Yorkshire MESMAC
  • Age is no Protection: sexual health promotion in the over 50s: Steve Maddern, Wiltshire Council and Age UK
  • Improving Trans and Non Binary sexual health: third sector partnership with GUM services: Patrick Hands and Dr Madeleine Crow, Yorkshire MESMAC and Leeds Sexual Health

Closing plenary

  • The HIV Prevention Programme 2016-2019: Chamut Kifetew, Terrence Higgins Trust
  • Overview of future HIV technologies: Simon Collins, i-Base
  • No one left behind, panel discussion: Dr Vanessa Apea, Luis Guerra, Ian Howley, Lizzie Jordan, Harvey Kennedy and Michelle Ross