NZAF Policy work is guided by the HIV AIDS Action Plan (make the title live and link to this document:  http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/82f4780aa066f8d7cc2570bb006b5d4d/2d2f24bba8b949bccc256dec00015360/$FILE/HIVAIDSActionPlan.pdf)

NZAF Policy is involved in the following activities:

- Policy submissions to national and international governmental organisations.

- Guidance and advice for people for people living with HIV on immigration (make the word immigration live and add this Word doc to it but in PDF ..\Immigration\IMMIGRATION FAQs for website Sept09.doc), insurance and rights in the workplace (make word workplace live and link to first factsheet in the future once we have done this resource).  

- Coordination of the National HIV and AIDS Forum.

- The NZAF Policy role is an active member of the National Antenatal HIV Screening Implementation Advisory Group (link to http://www.nsu.govt.nz/Health-Professionals/1126.asp) and the Public Health Association (link Public Health Association to their website http://www.pha.org.nz )

The NZAF has drafted guidelines to employees regarding their rights and responsibilities as regards disclosing their HIV status.

See the document here.

 

Public Health Bill

Data about new HIV diagnoses has been voluntarily collected alongside data about AIDS diagnoses since 1985. This data on HIV and AIDS uses anonymous coding for the protection of the privacy of people living with HIV. However AIDS is a notifiable ‘disease’ and HIV is not. The anonymous data on HIV has been crucial in monitoring the trends and state of the HIV epidemic in New Zealand. The NZAF supports HIV and STIs becoming notifiable under the proposals within the draft Public Health Bill. This will not change any aspect of a person’s current experience of the data collection, but will ensure the anonymous collection of the crucial data is protected in the future as well. Individuals will not be able to be identified through this proposed change.  

Data about new HIV diagnoses has been voluntarily collected alongside data about AIDS diagnoses since 1985. The anonymous data on HIV has been crucial in monitoring the trends and state of the HIV epidemic in New Zealand. The NZAF supports HIV and STIs becoming notifiable under proposals within the draft Public Health Bill. 

See the NZAF's submission here.

Blood Donation Deferral

The NZAF has welcomed the evidence based reduction of the deferral period for blood donation from ten years to five years for any man who has had anal or oral sex with another man. The NZAF understands that this ‘blanket’ deferral approach in addition to effective laboratory protocols and the testing of donated blood ensures that the New Zealand Blood Service can guarantee one of the safest blood supplies in the world. It is essential there is no risk of HIV entering the donated blood service from the population with the highest prevalence of HIV in New Zealand (gay and bisexual men). The blanket ban is comparable with other population group deferrals including those who have lived in high prevalence countries such as African nations.

The NZAF Research and Information (RAI) Unit published a paper on this topic in 2008.
 
 

In 2005, an important precedent was established that using a condom and lubricant was a reasonable precaution to discharge the duty of care in a criminal nuisance prosecution under Section 145 of the Crimes Act 1961. The NZAF considers this ruling to be an excellent match of the criminal law supporting a public health approach aligned with the prevention of HIV transmission.

See the NZAF's guidelines here and here.

Criminal cases concerning intentional transmission of HIV are unusual as the majority of people living with HIV take appropriate precautions.  The NZAF has been chairing a working group of the National HIV and AIDS Forum in drafting a set of guidelines for use in the rare situation of a person living with HIV being unable or unwilling to take appropriate precautions to protect others from HIV transmission.

The NZAF Policy Analyst, Kate Bukowski, made a presentation on this topic earlier this year.

New Zealand’s Sexual and  Reproductive Health Strategy

The NZAF and Family Planning have expressed increasing concern that the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy has not progressed since its development in 2001. The 2001 strategy was based on data from the late 1990s. The impact on New Zealanders from the increase in STIs including HIV alone is reason enough to urgently update the strategy, with measurable milestones and appropriate government leadership.

 

NZAF Policy Presentations 

 “Managing People with HIV who Place others at Risk. A Proposed National Best Practice Guideline”. Kate Bukowski. Sexual Health Conference, Waitangi (October 2009)

 “The Criminalisation of HIV from a Public Health Perspective”. Kate Bukowski.  Public Health Association Conference, Dunedin (September 2009)

“Anal Sex, Woman and HIV: Have we been too scared to ask?” Rachael Le Mesurier. The 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, Bali (August 2009)

 “HIV Update. MP Briefing 2009” Rachael Le Mesurier and Kate Bukowski, Wellington (August 2009).