Harrow: More than 100 people are now living with the HIV virus and AIDS in Harrow, alarming new figures have revealed.

The rise in registered cases from 16 in 1995/6 to 104 in 2001 has affected more women than men, particularly those of Afro-Caribbean origin, but there has also been an increase in the number of families with two or more members who are HIV positive.

Last year, 10 families were registered with Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare Trust now there are 13. Even more worryingly, there has also been a 40 per cent rise in the number of young children who are HIV positive, with 10 cases registered in the last 12 months.

But Craig Larkin, HIV/AIDS clinical nurse specialist, explained that those infected are living longer in Harrow, thanks to more effective anti-viral drugs, greater support and a better understanding of how the disease can be transmitted.

"I have a patient who has been positive for 24 years and he's still going strong. We are now seeing an increase in conditions such as lymphomas and AIDS dementia, possibly due to the longer lifestyle of our patients," he said.

North West London has the highest number of people with HIV and AIDS in the UK, but the Trust runs one of only four centres throughout the country that actually provides hands-on care in the community as well as preventative advice.

The service also helps to control and treat symptoms and provides access to a Well Person with AIDS programme. It also operates a hospice at home service so people nearing the end of their life can die at home with specialist nursing care.

Although the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS has died down in recent years there is still a problem getting the message across to heterosexual white men.

"They think that because they are not gay and not on drugs that it is not their problem. They are wrong. It is everybody's problem," concluded Mr Larkin.

The figures were released on December 1, World AIDS Day.

December 6, 2001 17:32