HIV Prevention Innovation Fund announced for 2016-17

Public Health England has announced a new HIV Prevention Innovation Fund to provide funding for local disease prevention initiatives.

Up to 600,000 pounds will be provided by the government to voluntary organisations across England. The application phase for the fund opens on May 10th, running until June 16th.

Proposals are welcomed that tackle diagnosis for both HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections, stigma associated with HIV, risky behaviours that can increase the danger of contracting HIV, and the integration of HIV prevention into wider sexual and reproductive health.

An estimated 103,700 people in the UK have HIV, of whom one-sixth are unaware and therefore at risk of unknowingly passing on the virus to others.

Of particular concern is the fact that infection rates are higher in certain groups of the population, including gay and bisexual men and Black African communities.

Public health minister Jane Ellison said: "We are already seeing some exciting prospects develop from last year's fund and I am looking forward to seeing more creativity and innovation this time round."