April 2004

Experts make up blood-borne infections group

The Government has drawn from a considerable pool of community, medical and scientific knowledge in forming a new expert group to advise on blood-borne and sexually transmissible infections, says Health Minister Bronwyn Pike.

Ms Pike said the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Blood-borne and Sexually Transmissible Infections (MACBSTI) would be chaired by Professor Steve Wesselingh, the Director of the Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health.

‘To ensure the Government is provided with the best possible advice, 14 medical and health experts and representatives from key community groups have been appointed to the advisory committee.

‘The members of the Victorian committee have links to national bodies and relevant networks, expertise in working with ethnic communities and in rural and regional issues.’

The new committee replaces the Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases (MACAHRD) established by the Government in 2000.

‘The focus of the new committee will be to provide advice on developments and responses to blood-borne-viruses and sexually transmissible infections, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B and syphilis,’ Ms Pike said.

‘Prevention, health promotion, treatment, care, research and training will all be addressed by the committee.

‘The committee will monitor scientific developments relevant to the control and treatment of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and related diseases to help ensure Victoria retains its excellent record in these areas,’ Ms Pike said.

The work of the committee will be performed primarily by three subcommittees: an HIV subcommittee, a hepatitis C subcommittee and a sexually transmissible infections subcommittee.

These subcommittees will meet regularly and will invite participation, as members, from relevant agencies and individuals.

During 2003 there were 225 HIV notifications in Victoria, a four percent decrease on the previous year.

Over the same period, however, there was a 45 per cent increase in gonorrhoea notifications, a 34 per cent increase in chlamydia notifications and infectious syphilis notifications doubled.

Since an increase in HIV notifications in 2000, the HIV Action Plan was implemented which put in place a suite of activities in the areas of education/prevention, Research/Surveillance and Sexual Health Testing.

Specific activities have included:

• $200,000 to the Victorian AIDS Council for a campaign to increase levels of HIV and STI testing for men who have sex with men;

• An additional $100,000 to the VAC to continue outreach campaign to beats, bars and sex on premises venues;

• A new multicultural HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and sexual health service—launched on World AIDS Day 2003.

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Blood-borne and Sexually Transmissible Infections comprises:

• Professor Steve Wesselingh (Chair);

• Dr Robert Hall, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer;

• Dr Mike Catton, Medical Director, HIV State Reference Laboratory;

• Dr Margaret Hellard, Head, Epidemiology and Social Research Program, Burnet Institute;

• Dr Anne Mijch, Head, Victorian HIV Service, Alfred Hospital;

• Associate Professor Paul Desmond, Director, Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital;

• Dr Nicholas Medland, The Centre Clinic;

• Professor Kit Fairley, Director, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre;

• Professor Marian Pitts, Director, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society;

• Dr Joseph Sasadeusz, Infectious Diseases Physician, Royal Melbourne Hospital;

• John Daye, President, People Living with HIV/AIDS Victoria;

• Suzanne Lau Gooey, Vice-Chair, Positive Women Victoria;

• Helen McNeill, Executive Officer, Hepatitis C Council of Victoria;

• John Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Anex;

• Dr Jon Willis, Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society and President, Victorian AIDS Council.