ACET, Jersey’s only charity dedicated to HIV social care,  prevention and education faces a service delivery crisis after the islands government announce budget cuts.

HIV prevention and social care services will disappear, as the charity is forced to make staff redundant, putting a question mark over the charities ability to survive in the long-term, if vital funds are not found.

The decision to cut funds to ACET ignores the public heath risk of  blood born viruses, says the charity.

Bruce Willing, Chairman of ACET told the BBC: “If ACET is to continue to offer care and support to those living with the illness, as well as to educate islanders, particularly young people, about the potential risks and behaviours that may increase their chances of contracting blood related illnesses, we have to find a source of new funding urgently.

“This is a sad time for our staff and also one of considerable concern for our clients who are naturally seeking reassurance about what emotional and practical support will be available to them from May onwards.

The minister for treasury and resources had provided ACET with a £38k grant from the Drug Confiscation Fund, but the charity say it is not enough.

Jersey is a parliamentary democracy that is a dependency of the British Crown. It is a British island, but is not part of the United Kingdom and is not a colony.

ENDS