Gay men among groups threatening Aids progress

Five key groups, including gay men, prostitutes, and prisoners, have stubbornly high rates of HIV that are threatening progress in the global Aids battle, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.

These people are most at risk of becoming infected with the human immunodeficiency virus that causes Aids, yet are least likely to get HIV prevention, testing and treatment services, the Geneva-based agency said.

“Globally we are failing certain populations that have the greatest risk yet we know have universally poorer access to health services. These are men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender persons, specifically transgender women, persons who inject drugs and persons who are in prisons or other closed settings,” Gottfried Hirnschall, director of the WHO’s department said.