THE Stormont stalemate is putting people's health at risk by hindering the implementation of a new sexual health action plan, a major conference has heard.
The Belfast-based Positive Life charity has warned that a health minister is urgently needed to approve a draft plan by the north's Department of Health to tackle sexually transmitted diseases.
Its chief executive, Jacquie Richardson, addressed the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV Annual Conference in Wales on Tuesday.
Along with warning that the draft plan was at risk without an Executive in place at Stormont, Ms Richardson also said the charity was concerned the draft does not go far enough in order to meet World Health Organisation targets on HIV transmission.
The Public Health Agency said last year that 1,325 people are living with HIV in Northern Ireland.
Ms Richardson said a fully funded relationships and sexuality education strategy was required alongside a public awareness campaign on reducing transmission and addressing the stigma associated with the disease.
“We are jeopardising the sexual health of everyone who is sexually active in Northern Ireland if further delay is made to the agreement and implementation of the Sexual Health Action Plan currently being drafted by the Department of Health," she said.
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"Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK without a strategic plan for sexual health improvement and promotion. This simply cannot continue.
“While it is welcome that a plan is in the final stages of completion, it should not have needed the civil service to step in and do the job.
"A health minister should be in post working with officials to ensure the plan is ambitious, fit for purpose and funded.
“As with many areas of sexual health policy, we are concerned that the current draft will not go far enough to meet the World Health Organisation target of ending HIV diagnoses by 2030. Given the comparatively small number of people living with HIV in Northern Ireland, we believe that it is possible to be world-leading in ending new HIV diagnoses and deliver on the 2030 ambition if the commitment and investment is made by the department.”
Ms Richardson said her charity's work will be impacted by the limiting of funding through the Department of Health's Core Grant Funding Scheme as a result of budget pressures.
“The decision last month to further cut and only provide Core Grant Funding to delivery partners until the end of September flies in the face of the department's intention to eventually implement this plan," she added.
“If we want to meet ambitious targets and tackle HIV stigma, we need a Department that is willing to help fund our vital work.”
The Department of Health has been approached for comment.
