On 14th February, I opened Leicestershire Aids Support Services’s conference at De Montfort University, which brought together over 100 delegates from across the country to discuss the challenges that lie ahead in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

We talked about raising public awareness, redoubling our efforts to prevent people getting the disease and encouraging more people to get tested. I also helped launch a report into LASS’s pioneering programme to help support HIV positive women.

LASS are doing fantastic work in the face the face of huge financial pressures and the fragmentation of services caused by the Government’s NHS reorganisation. I’m determined to do all I can to support LASS and all the other local services working with people with HIV/AIDs.