Sutton has one of highest rates of people living with HIV in the UK.

One in 350 people in Sutton are living with the HIV virus that causes AIDS – a condition which causes immune system failure. The UK-wide figure is currently one in 650.

The number of people living with HIV in Sutton has more than doubled since 2002 when the figure stood at one in every 890.

The National Aids Trust (NAT), a charity campaigning on a range of issues related to HIV, said Sutton Council must prioritise sexual health when they become responsible for public health spending next month.

Deborah Jack, chief executive of NAT said: "In April, Sutton council will for the first time be responsible for sexual health diagnosis and prevention.

"It has been allocated £8,384,000 by the Government to spend on public health over the next year but worryingly within that budget there will be no ring-fencing for HIV.

"We need strong commitment to HIV from Sutton’s local councillors to ensure HIV prevention and testing continues to receive the necessary funding.

“Disinvestment in HIV prevention and testing would seriously harm public health, especially in an area like Sutton which has a high rate of HIV.”

NAT also found that forty per cent of people living with HIV in Sutton are diagnosed late – indicating that they are likely to have been infected for at least five years.

Late diagnosis can mean worse health outcomes, a decreased life expectancy and a greater chance of passing the virus on. 

Councillor Colin Stears, chairman of Sutton Council’s adult social services and health committee, said: "From April the London Borough of Sutton will be responsible for testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.

"We are very aware of the need to address these issues, which is why we highlight the need for testing every year on World Aids Day (December 1).

"Historic funding has been agreed to continue for councils taking over public services and there is no plan to cease current arrangements.

"In 2011, the latest year for which figures are available, Sutton had an HIV rate of 2.29 per 1,000 people aged 15-59.

"This is higher than England (1.8 per 1,000) but well below the London rate (5.2 per 1,000). So, while we are by no means complacent, we don’t have a high rate by London levels."

NAT is asking people to hold bake sales to raise awareness of HIV.

For more information visit: http://www.hivaware.org.uk/act-aware/ideas-for-fundraising/fundraise/bake-aware.php or for more information on NAT visit: http://nat.org.uk//