GHT Homepage Inside GHT HIV in the North West

As an organisation we continually analyse the epidemiology of HIV amongst our service users and across the North West region. We work with the North West HIV & AIDS Monitoring Unit at the Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University to supply monitoring information as part of the annual review of HIV & AIDS in the North West of England.

Since George House Trust was first established in 1985, the epidemiology has changed significantly, resulting in a constantly evolving service provision.

The biggest change in recent years has been the influence of the global AIDS pandemic, reflected in the increased number of service users from Black / Minority Ethnic Communities. This increase has brought an increased level of poverty and destitution amongst our service users due to the higher numbers of asylum seekers and refugees, placing additional strain on our welfare fund and advocacy services.

We are also providing services to an increasing number of families, which has resulted in the partnership work with Barnardo’s Health Through Action Project to provide crèche facilities.



Key statistics on HIV in the North West: (based on 2006 data)

• 4,761 cases of HIV reported in the North West
• Local authorities with the highest reported incidence were Manchester, Salford, Liverpool and Blackpool
• Within Greater Manchester, highest incidences were in Manchester, Salford, Bolton and Trafford
• Manchester accounts for 29% of all reported cases in the North West
• 53% of total reported cases were infected as a result of sex between men
• Over a third of total cases were reported to have been exposed to HIV abroad, up from 19% in 1998
• The majority (81%) of those infected abroad were infected through heterosexual sex, the vast majority of these being infected in sub-Saharan Africa
• During 2006 there were 907 new cases of HIV, 48% of which were as a result of exposure via heterosexual sex

Further information can be obtained from the North West HIV & AIDS Monitoring Unit at the Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University www.nwpho.org.uk/hiv