Review of services for people living with HIV in New Zealand

In view of consistent references to unquantified levels of stigma obstructing HIV‐related prevention,diagnosis and care efforts, particularly within specific ethnic populations in New Zealand, the needfor clarification of the impact of stigma on engagement with HIV services is urgent. A nationalconversation on stigma in health, examining experiences to date from a variety of perspectives andworking towards development of an action agenda, would benefit operational responses to STIs andHIV/AIDS, and to other health issues also.Finally, smaller NGOs with demonstrated records of service provision and defined constituencies arehaving difficulty coping. Even though their constituencies may be well‐defined and relatively small,the demands of those constituencies are significant and growing, in terms of both practical andemotional needs. These NGOs need and deserve help. The Ministry of Health should consider corefunding in each case to support sustainable, outcomes‐based activities so these NGOs are notconstantly distracted from their primary missions by the need to find funding for survival. Possiblebenchmarks could be implemented for providing funds to smaller community‐based HIV supportservices.44 REVIEW OF SERVICES FOR PLHA