Dr LIM - 1995-11-30
Tomorrow is World AIDS Day. What is the level of HIV/AIDS in the Territory and what programs are in place to combat this disease?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for the question. It is particularly relevant. This is an appropriate time to reflect on where we are in terms of the HIV/AIDS campaign and where we may be heading in the future.
Although the Territory's statistics are very good comparatively speaking - that is, in relative terms - obviously, any number of HIV/AIDS cases is not good. However, with only 82 diagnoses in the Northern Territory to date compared with a national figure of some 19 000 to March 1995, we are probably under-represented by about 50% in purely numerical terms. A similar sort of ratio exists for the number of deaths that follow the onset of AIDS. There were 4196 deaths in Australia - a figure worth contemplating - up to March 1995,
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whereas there were 22 deaths in the Northern Territory. That reflects some excellent campaigns, including programs administered by the communicable diseases staff in the Territory's Department of Health Services. I refer to educational programs in the community generally and in schools, the concentration on testing and education, and the AIDS Council's work, including the needle exchange program. I think that all of those services have led to some pretty good results.
The approaches taken by communicable diseases staff have been not only quite thorough and comprehensive, but also innovative. Obviously, there is a link between STDs and HIV inasmuch as that, if we can reduce STD statistics, we can impact on HIV/AIDS also. This has been shown to be the case overseas. In relation to that, whilst there is quite extensive reporting of STDs in the Territory, some local programs have been innovative and excellent. I will mention them briefly. The treatment for donovanosis, which has now been developed by the Territory's Department of Health Services staff, is excellent. A single dosage can bring that horrific sexually-transmitted disease under control. For members who have an interest in some of these areas, although I do not recommend it for pre-dinner viewing, a briefing by the communicable diseases staff is very enlightening in relation to that and some of the other programs. They include the innovative `T' Test for women. That is a non-invasive test for STDs in women, an excellent innovation. Men's urine tests not only make testing for STDs more readily accessible and easier to do but act as an encouragement because it is a fairly easy test to do for men who think they may have a problem or who have been recommended to have a check-up. Some of these programs are excellent.
There are 2 points of which we need to be conscious for the times ahead. The first is that this is no time to be complacent. Whilst our statistics are good, there is a need for us to remain vigilant for decades to come and to ensure that we have comprehensive programs. Secondly, although a large amount of money is being spent on Aboriginal STD and HIV educational monitoring programs, whilst I do not wish to be alarmist, as was mentioned at the AIDS breakfast the other morning, an Aboriginal community in Western Australia has experienced literally an explosion in the incidence of HIV. I would have liked to think that the reason Aboriginals were not highly represented in our figures might have been due to some natural physiological resistance or suchlike. However, it does not appear that we are as lucky as that. Rather, I think it has all been a matter of chance. Without being alarmist, the area to which I think we need to pay a considerable amount of attention in the times ahead is the educational and monitoring programs for STDs and HIV in Aboriginal communities.
On that note, I congratulate members of the Territory's Department of Health Services, not only on the excellent work they do and the reputation it has gained nationally and internationally, but also for the innovative nature of their work which is to be commended.
Page 1108
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for the question. It is particularly relevant. This is an appropriate time to reflect on where we are in terms of the HIV/AIDS campaign and where we may be heading in the future.
Although the Territory's statistics are very good comparatively speaking - that is, in relative terms - obviously, any number of HIV/AIDS cases is not good. However, with only 82 diagnoses in the Northern Territory to date compared with a national figure of some 19 000 to March 1995, we are probably under-represented by about 50% in purely numerical terms. A similar sort of ratio exists for the number of deaths that follow the onset of AIDS. There were 4196 deaths in Australia - a figure worth contemplating - up to March 1995,
Page 1107
whereas there were 22 deaths in the Northern Territory. That reflects some excellent campaigns, including programs administered by the communicable diseases staff in the Territory's Department of Health Services. I refer to educational programs in the community generally and in schools, the concentration on testing and education, and the AIDS Council's work, including the needle exchange program. I think that all of those services have led to some pretty good results.
The approaches taken by communicable diseases staff have been not only quite thorough and comprehensive, but also innovative. Obviously, there is a link between STDs and HIV inasmuch as that, if we can reduce STD statistics, we can impact on HIV/AIDS also. This has been shown to be the case overseas. In relation to that, whilst there is quite extensive reporting of STDs in the Territory, some local programs have been innovative and excellent. I will mention them briefly. The treatment for donovanosis, which has now been developed by the Territory's Department of Health Services staff, is excellent. A single dosage can bring that horrific sexually-transmitted disease under control. For members who have an interest in some of these areas, although I do not recommend it for pre-dinner viewing, a briefing by the communicable diseases staff is very enlightening in relation to that and some of the other programs. They include the innovative `T' Test for women. That is a non-invasive test for STDs in women, an excellent innovation. Men's urine tests not only make testing for STDs more readily accessible and easier to do but act as an encouragement because it is a fairly easy test to do for men who think they may have a problem or who have been recommended to have a check-up. Some of these programs are excellent.
There are 2 points of which we need to be conscious for the times ahead. The first is that this is no time to be complacent. Whilst our statistics are good, there is a need for us to remain vigilant for decades to come and to ensure that we have comprehensive programs. Secondly, although a large amount of money is being spent on Aboriginal STD and HIV educational monitoring programs, whilst I do not wish to be alarmist, as was mentioned at the AIDS breakfast the other morning, an Aboriginal community in Western Australia has experienced literally an explosion in the incidence of HIV. I would have liked to think that the reason Aboriginals were not highly represented in our figures might have been due to some natural physiological resistance or suchlike. However, it does not appear that we are as lucky as that. Rather, I think it has all been a matter of chance. Without being alarmist, the area to which I think we need to pay a considerable amount of attention in the times ahead is the educational and monitoring programs for STDs and HIV in Aboriginal communities.
On that note, I congratulate members of the Territory's Department of Health Services, not only on the excellent work they do and the reputation it has gained nationally and internationally, but also for the innovative nature of their work which is to be commended.
Page 1108
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016