We ignore increases in HIV diagnoses amongst Maori at our peril says Turia

The Maori Party today has reacted to the most recent information from the AIDS Epidemiology Group, which identifies huge increases in HIV diagnoses among Maori in the first six months of 2007.

“The September 2007 report reveals that HIV infection amongst Maori has risen from 6.4% of all notifications in 2006, to 11.4% in the first six months of 2007” said Tariana Turia, health spokesperson for the Maori Party.

“The sharp increase in HIV infection amongst Maori for this first half year is an early warning that we ignore at our peril” said Mrs Turia.

Twelve of the 105 people found to be infected with HIV are identified as Maori.

“This new information is a cause for concern amongst Maori, in the context of the hotbed of controversy that seems to be associated with the New Zealand AIDS Foundation” said Mrs Turia.

“I have advised the Minister of Health some two months ago, about concerns reported to me, that the needs of Maori living with HIV, HIV positive women, migrant and refugees were being neglected in favour of white gay men” said Mrs Turia.

“These were concerns that were directed to our attention by members of the affected community who have expressed a lack of confidence in the leadership of the Foundation” said Mrs Turia.

“They have told us of a mass exodus of staff who have resigned; of a number of current cases of personal grievances, culminating in a letter of no-confidence sent to the Board of NZAF”” said Mrs Turia.

“Then to read one of the NZAF reports on the new rapid testing which states outright that “Pakeha gay men” are “the exact group most at risk of becoming infected” really doesn’t give me much confidence in the capacity of that organisation to care for those people living with the virus who happen to be Maori; women, or migrant and refugees”.

“While there is no disputing the facts that the majority of people notified with AIDS have been men infected through sex with men (73%); and that the majority of people notified with AIDS are European (71%) we must make sure that our efforts to control the incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in Aotearoa cater for the broader population” said Mrs Turia.

“What an irony that even amongst the marginalised there is marginalisation, and let’s face it, this same ethnic targeting which favours white males is a reflection of the bias which exists in the wider community and society” said Mrs Turia.