The 1990s

March 31 2005 The decade of advancement. By Kevin Timmins

1990 - PREVENTION: As information about HIV continues to develop, prevention campaigns come to the fore, ushering in a decade of safer sex. MeSMAC Manchester begins an immediate and upfront gay community response. Manchester AIDSLine and BP(NW) find a new home at George House. The Black HIV & AIDS forum (BHAF) now known as The Black Health Agency is set up in Manchester to work with black communities and combat health inequalities.

1991 - SYMBOLS: A watershed year in HIV awareness, as the Red Ribbon becomes the worldwide symbol of AIDS. The Village Charity is born in Manchester, to develop an annual fundraiser and raise vital money for the region. As a result, the first Bank Holiday carnival hits the streets of Manchester. The event is a great success, with local Lesbian & Gay communities coming out in force to support people living with HIV & AIDS.

1992 - DEBATE: The fight against HIV gathers momentum as debate rages over local authority spending. In spite of the arguments Manchester AIDSline continues to expand its services and becomes George House Trust, whilst BP(NW) opens its own premises.In London Gay Men Fighting AIDS is launched. Debate rages further when a world famous fashion house use the picture of a man dying from AIDS in an ad campaign.

1993 - DRUGS: The World Health Organisation estimates that over 15 milions adults worldwide are infected with HIV. The worst figures are still those from the developing countries, where care and prevention are hampered by costs. The Concorde trials give rise to a serious debate over the effectiveness of AZT, the only anti-HIV drug available at the time. It seems the impact of the new drugs can be improved.

1994 - RADICAL: The govenment announces huge cutbacks as the Health Minister blocks a major £2m campaign, and local funding is withdrawn. However, the Paris Declaration to improve health services is signed by 42 states. Furthermore, the success of the film Philadelphia marks a shift in public support. Healthy Gay Manchester (HGM) is launched to provide a more local & radical barnd of gay men's HIV prevention.

1995 - INFORMATION: As knowledge and understanding increase, publications like Positive Times & Positive Nation are launched, ensuring vital information continues to reach the public. The Delta trials confirm that anti-HIV drug therapies are improving. The first Manchester Mardi Gras street festival raises much-needed money and raises awareness, whilst giving local charities a platform for new ideas & information.

1996 - ADVANCES: The 11th World AIDS Conference in Vancouver announces major advances in treatments, as combination therapy proves effective in many trials. Despite these major developments, HIV continues to infect complacent communties, including gay men in the West, making prevention a critical issue. HGM launch their Community Fighting Fund in an effort to boost local prevention work with gay men.

1997 - EVENTS: The nation mourns the death of Princess Diana, a figurehead in the fight against the disease. As the Manchester Mardi Gras continues to bloom, the Village Charity is forced to close. Therapies continue to succeed, and the numbers of those living with HIV continues to increase. BP(NW) find a new home for their growing services, while a national strategy for gay men's prevention work begins to forge a unified focus.

1998 - CONCERN: Despite a falling death rate in the West, more continue to be infected with HIV throughout the world, prompting concern over the cost & availability of treatment. In the face of government cuts, communities in the UK continue to strengthen. Those living with HIV find a real voice when many come together to fight political attempts to criminalise HIV transmission, plus the increasing threat of funding cuts.

1999 - STATISTICS: Concern continues for care services, treatment & prevention strategies throughout the world, as statistics prove the health crisis has not gone away. In the UK, 30,000 people are infected with HIV (less than the early years predicted), although more than 10,000 are unaware of their infection. Globally, it is estimated there are over 34 million people infected with HIV, while over 16 million have since died from AIDS.