World AIDS Day: Lisa Hamzah & Eleanor Hamlyn on Progress and Priorities
Lisa Hamzah and Eleanor Hamlyn are Co-chairs of the BASHH HIV and BBV Special Interest Group
01 December 2025
(Last updated: 1 Dec 2025 13:10)
Why does World AIDS Day remain such an important date for clinicians, patients, and the wider public?
It's a time for all of us to reflect on how far we have come, to remember those we have lost and to continue to raise awareness, fight stigma and advocate for HIV in all we do. The theme this year of “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response" really reflects this; it acknowledges the impact of global cuts from international donors and the resilience of communities and countries who are affected. We remain a global community and now, more than ever, we need to unite internationally and politically and prioritise a human rights-based approach to achieve our goal of ending HIV by 2030.
Could you outline the key aims and priorities of the HIV & BBV (blood borne virus) Special Interest Group, and explain how your work supports the wider mission of BASHH?
The specialist interest group brings together community and a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians with the aim of improving the lives of people living with HIV, reducing stigma and supporting access to treatment. We also work closely with the PrEP working group to drive change. Together we organise educational events and provide advocacy and expert opinion for a wide range partnerships and stakeholders from community and grassroots organisations to government bodies and national guidelines.
What do you consider the most pressing challenges in HIV care and prevention in the UK?
While the majority of people living with HIV are on successful treatment, with a normal life expectancy and cannot pass on HIV, there remains inequality. Testing is key; testing rates are declining in some groups such as heterosexual men, women and young people and we need to reach those unaware of their diagnosis before they develop advanced HIV.
Testing is the gateway to HIV prevention and treatment. An unmet need for PrEP remains high among women and marginalised groups and we need to develop strategies to increase awareness and education in these populations. Diagnosis is only the first step: we also need to work harder to engage and keep people in care.
Finally, there is stigma. Unfortunately, stigma remains prevalent and is a huge barrier for testing, treatment and prevention. Without tackling this we cannot end this epidemic and improve the lives of those living with HIV.
Conversely, what signs of progress or recent positive developments give you hope for the future of HIV prevention and treatment?
Opt-out HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing in the Emergency Department has transformed BBV testing within the UK in many of our cities, with now over 12 million tests performed with 1,554 HIV, 7,493 HBV and 2,783 HCV new diagnoses to date. The programme has successfully reached many who have never tested before or felt themselves to be at risk, with 93% now successfully on treatment and receiving access to peer support. This has made fantastic headway into diagnosing the undiagnosed, being able to offer care, and to de-stigmatise testing.
The approval for long acting cabotegravir is also incredibly exciting and we hope this will be a real game changer in the HIV prevention toolkit and allow access to PrEP for those currently unable to use oral PrEP.
Looking ahead to the next 12 months, what key objectives or outcomes would you like to see achieved in HIV care?
World AIDS Day sees the launch of the new HIV Action Plan for England. This is the blueprint we need to advocate for a focus on re-engagement in care, better collaboration between primary and secondary care, tackling stigma and improving the quality of life for people with HIV.
We cannot do this without the HIV community, and better partnership and co-production of services should be key for the future. We have five years to get to zero new HIV infections, zero late diagnoses and zero stigma. The end goal is within our grasp and it's up to all of us to work together to achieve this.
What advice would you offer to clinicians to help accelerate progress toward ending HIV transmission and improving care for people living with HIV?
To our community, HIV, sexual health and other colleagues, a huge thank you for all the hard work you are doing and for the amazing gains we have made. For all our other colleagues in primary care, in other specialities and in the community - we cannot do this without you! Encouraging routine testing, signposting to prevention services such as PrEP, spreading the word about U=U and helping drive down stigma outside the HIV world by advocacy will all help us to achieve zero HIV together.
View the Government's HIV Action Plan 2025-2030 here.