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Indigenous: National

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2010

Australian Department of Health and Ageing (2010)

Third national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections strategy 2010 – 2013.

Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing, Australia

The Third National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy was released in March 2010. It is one of a set of five national strategies aimed at reducing the transmission of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs) and their morbidity, mortality and personal and social impacts.

The strategy highlights ongoing challenges in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities relating to STIs and BBVs. These include:

  • sustained and unacceptably high rates of bacterial STIs in many remote communities
  • the rate of acquisition of HIV and viral hepatitis through injecting drug use
  • ongoing incidence of HIV infections among men who have sex with men
  • lack of access for many communities to culturally appropriate primary health care services.

The new priority action areas identified in the strategy are:

  • annual, routine and systematic testing, treatment and follow-up for bacterial STIs of sexually active Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
  • increased access to treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who test positive to bacterial STIs;
  • increased primary prevention activities that seek to reduce the number of new cases of HIV and viral hepatitis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who inject drugs
  • competent and accredited workforces consistent across all jurisdictions to address the scope of work outlined in the strategy.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

2005

Department of Health and Ageing (2005)

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sexual health and blood borne virus strategy 2005-2008.

Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing, Australia

Evidence shows that high rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are due in large part to lack of access to basic primary health care services for appropriate treatment, care and support. This strategy builds upon the work of the National Indigenous Australians’ Sexual Health Strategy (NIASHS) 1996-97 to 2003-04 and complements national mainstream strategies in related areas. It highlights the additional priorities and special issues that are unique to the prevention and treatment needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Its intention is to provide a comprehensive approach to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, STIs, and blood borne viruses (BBV) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The strategy identifies four priority areas that require concerted action by Indigenous-specific and mainstream health services. They are:

  • sexually transmissible infections;
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the cross border region of Australia and
    Papua New Guinea;
  • access to needle and syringe programs; and
  • increased capacity in the health and community workforce to address all aspects of Aboriginal
    and Torres Strait Islander HIV/AIDS, STIs and BBV.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

 
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