Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
Summary
The vision of the Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection (STBBI) strategy is to achieve ‘An Aotearoa New Zealand where STBBI are prevented and where all people living with STBBI live long and healthy lives free from stigma and discrimination.’
Sexually transmitted and blood borne infections can have profound and long-term impacts on health and wellbeing for individuals. These infections share common modes of transmission, risk factors, stigma and priority groups who may be at greater risk of infection and inequitable health outcomes.
The purpose of the strategy is to improve collaboration, support collective action and set a unified strategic direction across the health sector in response to sexually transmitted and blood borne infections.
There are four overarching goals of the STBBI strategy:
- Reduce incidence of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections in Aotearoa New Zealand and eliminate congenital syphilis, hepatitis C and transmission of HIV
- decrease mortality and the negative health and wellbeing outcomes of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections including stigma and discrimination
- improve Māori health and wellbeing in relation to sexually transmitted and blood borne infections through delivery on Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations
- increase equity in relation to all sexually transmitted and blood borne infections goals and objectives.
To achieve these goals, there are four strategic directions to provide a framework for delivering effective action on sexually transmitted and blood borne infections. The strategic directions are:
- Surveillance, information, and knowledge systems to drive action
- results-focused health promotion and comprehensive prevention
- equitable access to culturally safe quality health care for testing and management
- leading for an integrated, supported, consumer-focused system.
The strategy has been guided and informed by international and local strategic context, the epidemiology of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections in Aotearoa New Zealand including inequities in health outcomes, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and commitment to achieving equity for all.
Manatū Hauora and the Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui will monitor and oversee the delivery of the STBBI strategy in partnership with health agencies. The Strategy sits across and supports the delivery of the HIV Action Plan, Hepatitis C Action Plan and National Syphilis Action Plan, to eliminate the transmission of these infections by 2030.
