Barking and Dagenham has a HIV prevalence rate of 4.82 per thousand, exceeding guidelines for high prevalence areas, a Health Scrutiny Committee meeting heard on Monday 14 September 2026.
Mark Santos, Executive Director of Positive East, presented an overview of the organisation's work, highlighting that a significant issue is the high rate of late diagnosis, with 44.4% of individuals diagnosed at a late stage. This drastically increases the risk of mortality.
HIV late diagnosis is quite significant, because the statistics show that you're 10 to 13 times more likely to die within a year of being diagnosed if you're diagnosed at a late stage, whereas if you're diagnosed at an early stage and start treatment, you can live a life as long as someone of a similar age and background,
Mr. Santos explained.
He also noted a low uptake of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medication that prevents HIV acquisition, and highlighted that disengagement from HIV care, poverty, and poor housing are significant issues, with 82% of presenting issues at Positive East relating to these factors.
Positive East addresses these challenges through various initiatives, including community-based HIV testing and prevention services at locations such as Barking College, Coventry University, and Dagenham Library. They also focus on PrEP equity, particularly for heterosexual individuals from Black heritage communities and women, through projects like Women for Women
and community-based PrEP clinics.
For those living with HIV, Positive East provides comprehensive support services, including an advice service that secured £184,000 in benefits and hardship funds in the last financial year. Peer support, recommended by the British HIV Association, is a key offering.
Councillor Donna Lumsden, Deputy Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, asked about training for GP surgeries to offer routine HIV tests and initiatives to tackle stigma. Mr. Santos explained that while training is provided to GPs, access can be difficult, and highlighted the importance of opt-out testing in emergency departments as a potential model for GP registration.
Councillor Marion Hull inquired about effective community-based strategies for reducing HIV transmission and how local policies and education tackle HIV awareness. Mr. Santos emphasised community-led strategies, citing the Women for Women
project as an example, and highlighted the North East London Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy as a key policy driver.
Councillor Glen Spoor asked for evidence demonstrating that Positive East's work is improving outcomes and moving towards ending new HIV transmissions. Mr. Santos identified inequities and inequalities, late diagnosis, stigma, access to PrEP, and disengagement from care as key challenges, noting that while overall numbers are on a downward trajectory, specific communities are not faring as well.
In the last financial year, Positive East engaged with 1,285 people in Barking and Dagenham, working specifically with 113 people living with HIV and testing 122 for HIV and STIs.
