David Eyre Broadcast Journalist, Politics Show Scotland

The scary voiceover. The huge falling gravestone. For folk of a certain age, the image used in the Government's 1980s AIDS awareness advert is sure to stick in their minds.

Promotion of safe sex is necessary

When AIDS and HIV first came to the media's attention, there was near hysteria.

Hardly a day went by without some kind of tabloid headline about the new epidemic.

But since then, things have calmed down. Most people seem to think that the infection is under control.

That is certainly not the case in Scotland, where are 3857 people with AIDS.

The numbers of people infected with HIV each year has risen from 154 in 2000 to 259 in 2003.

Huge rise in infection

In February 2004 a report from the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health claims that the problem could get even worse.

They looked at the number of people being infected with syphilis. Reported cases increased by 56% between 2002 and 2003.

More than half of them were reported in Glasgow and nearly 70% of them involved men who have sex with men.

... No surprise if the incidence of HIV among gay men in the West of Scotland had also increased Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health

The Centre says syphilis is a good indicator of how many people are engaging in high risk sexual behaviour.

Their report points out that; "it would not be surprising if the incidence of HIV among gay men in the West of Scotland had also increased in the last two years."

But because it takes a while for the symptoms of HIV infection to come through, the numbers might not show up for some time to come.

A recent survey by ISIS Research suggests that most HIV specialists believe there is a need for the Government to launch a new hard-hitting campaign to increase awareness of HIV.

Of the 30 doctors surveyed, only 7% felt that there was no need for a new campaign.

But what else could the Scottish Executive do to raise people's awareness about the dangers of HIV infection and the need to practice safe sex?

Reporter Amber Henshaw has been to Glasgow to find out.

Politics Show

Let us know what you think. That is the Politics Show Sunday 22 February at Midday.

The Politics Show - looking at the issues which have hit the headlines.

Tune into Politics Show Scotland, on BBC One on Sundays at Noon, with reporter Amber Henshaw and presenter Glenn Campbell.

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