IN THE 1980s, people were terrified of catching HIV and there was widespread publicity about the dangers and preventative measures. But, with improved treatment and better drugs, experts say people have become complacent and are taking more risks with their sexual health, leading to a dramatic rise in cases. DONNA McKENZIE reports. . .

DR SEDKI Gayed has been a consultant in Genito Urinary Medicine at Blackburn Infirmary since October 1999 -- and still amazed at people's complacency over Aids.

He revealed that four of his male patients had been shocked to learn they had contracted HIV despite sleeping with around 15 women each while holidaying separately in Thailand recently.

He said: "What really surprises me is that people take high risks and are not worried at all.

"They think they are immune to HIV.

"After the initial epidemic, people have become relaxed about HIV because they think it can be treated, but it is still a fatal disease.

"The media concentrates on the advancements in HIV but we have to remind everyone that there is still no cure and people should be cautious all the time."

The latest HIV drug treatment was brought to East Lancashire in 1996 and patients, who are monitored on a regular basis, are doing well.

But even with early diagnosis life expectancy is only around 20 years.

Dr Gayed said: "With proper care, death is not as common as it was 10 years ago and in East Lancashire there have only been two deaths in the last two years.

"But there is a problem with funding to care for people in the latter stages.

"We need a specialist HIV clinic in East Lancashire with more doctors but the PCTs have declined to give us the money."

Dr Gayed, and other health experts in the area, also believe more should be done to prevent HIV in the first place.

The latest report, from Liverpool's John Moores University shows that between 2001 and 2003 the numbers of people seeking treatment in Hyndburn and Ribble Valley rose from 14 to 26; in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale there was an increase from 24 to 36 and in Blackburn with Darwen cases more than doubled from 17 to 38.

Dr John Astbury, public health consultant for the Health Protection Agency's Accrington office, said: "I can remember in the 1980s when everyone was really scared about HIV and was anxious to get information on how to avoid it.

"Everyone was thinking 'I have to be more careful who I have sex with' at that time.

"They realised there wasn't just a risk from their partner but their sexual past too.

"But now that there are better drugs people don't consider it to be the fatal condition it is.

"Also, in schools, I think the message has become diluted over the years.

"It has been lost among other sexual health promotion messages.

"But this is a disease that is proving to be resilient.

"Drugs may prolong people's lives but there is still no effective cure so prevention is always far better.

"The answer to tackling this is people's behaviour."

A number of initiatives are now being discussed across the region to assist with this, including more education for young people.

Dr Steve Morton, director of public health with Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT, says a bid has been submitted for funding in Hyndburn to establish a Peer Education Programme.

This would involve training young people to work in schools and youth groups to share information relating to sexual health as well as topics such as alcohol, smoking and drug awareness. Dr Morton has also suggested a pilot scheme to make condoms more readily available free of charge, perhaps through GP surgeries.

He said: "In the UK the one form of family planning that is not available by prescription is the condom, which provides the best protection against HIV.

"If we are trying to promote prevention should we not be making them free, at least to those under 25?

"Another issue is that at this time of year the biggest risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV to the UK is when people go abroad on holiday.

"They are more likely to be drinking more than they should.

"And they will perhaps do something they might regret.

"As well as avoiding UV rays we should be encouraging travel agents to give advice on using barrier contraceptive.

"It is a general problem that people are not giving enough priority to safer sex.

"I guess there is not the same priority nationally as there was in the 80s but that has to change."