Aidsmap Explained

Formation:1987
Formerly:National Aids Manual
Founder:Peter Scott
Purpose:Independent, accurate & accessible information about HIV
Headquarters:United Kingdom
Leader Title:Executive Director
Leader Name:Matthew Hodson

Aidsmap, also known as NAM aidsmap, was a website which published independent, accurate and accessible information and news about HIV and AIDS.[1] [2] [3] The aidsmap website was run by a charity based in the United Kingdom, NAM. The site closed in July 2024 due to challenges securing funding.[4]

"NAM" originally stood for "national AIDS manual" and referred to a 1987 compendium of all information about HIV published for non-scientists in England.[5] [6] [7] Since aidsmap became an international organisation, NAM was no longer used as an acronym and there was no longer any particular "aids manual" being maintained.[8] [9]

NAM aidsmap's vision was of a world where HIV is no longer a threat to health or happiness.

Timeline of work

NAM was founded in 1987 by Peter Scott,[10] who was then working for the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. He was seeking to address the public's demand for a source of information about HIV.[11]

Subsequent Directors were Will Anderson (to 1996),[12] Colin Nee (1996–2001),[13] Caspar Thomson (2001–2016)[14] and Matthew Hodson (2016–2024).[15] [16]

In 1992 the organisation began publishing the newsletter now called the HIV Treatment Update,[17] which was designed to give patients the information they need to help direct their choices for HIV treatment.[18] [19] [20]

In 1998 aidsmap.com was launched as an online resource[21] [22] [23] for all printed materials. It was a partnership project involving NAM and The British HIV Association,[24] and later the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. The original site editors were Edward King[25] and Keith Alcorn.[26] From 2018 to 2024, the editor was Roger Pebody.[27]

In 2006 aidsmap.com was awarded first prize in the Patient Information Website category of the 2006 British Medical Association’s (BMA) Medical Books Competition.[28]

In 2019, NAM aidsmap launched its new aidsmap website after a major redevelopment project.[29]

In December 2019, aidsmapLIVE, an HIV information series broadcast on NAM's social media channels, won both the Innovation and Media award at the nOscars, hosted by Naz Project London.[30] [31]

In 2024, NAM, the organisation publishing aidsmap, faced a funding crisis and was forced to close.[32] In response, Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of the United Nations joint AIDS programme UNAIDS paid tribute to the organisation's work. “You have been a trusted source and resource for people living with HIV and everyone in the global HIV response. You leave an exceptional legacy.” Byanyima said.[33]

The International AIDS Society also stated that the closure of the service would leave a significant void: “NAM has consistently delivered unparalleled commentary and coverage of critical HIV-related news. It is now more imperative than ever for all stakeholders in the HIV response to intensify our efforts to fill this significant void.” they said.[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NAM PUBLICATIONS - Charity 1011220 . 2022-09-21 . register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk . en-GB.
  2. Silverman . Taylor . Asante . Nicole . van den Berg . Jacob J . 2018-10-16 . Quality of HIV Websites With Information About Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or Treatment as Prevention for Men Who Have Sex With Men: Systematic Evaluation . JMIR Public Health and Surveillance . en . 4 . 4 . e11384 . 10.2196/11384 . 2369-2960 . 6231722 . 30327291 . free .
  3. Book: Shelling, Gene M. . AIDS Policies and Programs . 2006 . Nova Publishers . 978-1-60021-217-8 . en.
  4. https://www.aidsmap.com/news/jul-2024/thank-you-and-farewell
  5. Web site: Archives of NAM (National AIDS Manual) . 2022-09-21 . Wellcome Collection . en.
  6. Anthony . Pinching . 1993 . Book reviews . Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London . 27 . 1 . 88–89 . 5396607 .
  7. News: Mann . Cass . 1998 . 16 October . Aids charity 'should not have lost its funding' . 4 . The Kingston Informer .
  8. Web site: HIV & AIDS Information :: Who we are - Our name . aidsmap.com . 2011 . 24 June 2011.
  9. Web site: Sex Talk . 2022-09-21 . www.sextalk.radio.
  10. 1995-03-04 . Medicine and the Media . British Medical Journal . 310 . 6979 . 607 . 0959-8138 . 2548979.
  11. Web site: HIV & AIDS Information :: Thirty years on . aidsmap.com . 5 June 2011. 24 June 2011.
  12. Web site: NAM PUBLICATIONS filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK . 2022-10-14 . find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk . en.
  13. Weatherburn, P., et al. "What do you need? 2001-02: findings from a national survey of people living with HIV." (2002).
  14. Web site: 2016-07-25 . Meet Matthew Hodson, the New Executive Director of NAM . 2022-10-14 . POZ . en.
  15. Web site: 17 November 2017 . This year's 30 charity leaders on social media: be bold to succeed . 27 April 2022 . The Guardian.
  16. Web site: Matthew Hodson stands down as aidsmap's Executive Director after 8 years . aidsmap . 15 July 2024.
  17. Berridge . Virginia . 2002 . AIDS and the rise of the patient? Activist organisation and HIV/AIDS in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s . Medizin, Gesellschaft, und Geschichte: Jahrbuch des Instituts für Geschichte der Medizin der Robert Bosch Stiftung . 21 . 109–123 . 0939-351X . 13677353.
  18. Web site: AIDS Treatment Update : 15% discount to NAM Manual subscribers / NAM. . 2022-09-21 . Wellcome Collection . en.
  19. 10.1136/sti.72.5.380 . Genitourinary medicine and the Internet. No 2 . 1996 . Lau . R. K. . Sexually Transmitted Infections . 72 . 5 . 380–381 . 8976859 . 1195710 .
  20. 1992-03-14 . NOTES . British Medical Journal . 304 . 6828 . 718.2 . 10.1136/bmj.304.6828.718-e . 0959-8138 . 1881552.
  21. Aidsmap.com: A Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Information Resource . Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet . 2017 . 10.1080/15398285.2017.1377545 . 27 April 2022. Morris . Martin . 21 . 4 . 402–409 . 80617999 .
  22. Web site: aidsmap.com : the direct route to information on aids / NAM, British HIV Association. . 2022-09-23 . Wellcome Collection . en.
  23. News: 1998 . 24 Jun 1998 . Great Britain launches new Aids web site . 23 . 8 . The Nation . Reuters . Thailand .
  24. 10.1086/313952 . Human Immunodeficiency Virus on the Web: A Guided Tour . 2000 . Shafer . R. W. . Deresinski . S. C. . Clinical Infectious Diseases . 31 . 2 . 568–577 . 10987723 . 2573401 .
  25. Web site: Edward King Archive . 2022-09-23 . Bishopsgate Institute . en.
  26. Web site: An introduction to aidsmap.com : HIV treatment information on the world wide web / Keith Alcorn. . 2022-09-23 . Wellcome Collection . en.
  27. https://www.aidsmap.com/user/3
  28. Web site: 2006-09-13 . Electronic patient information awards announced . 2022-09-23 . Digital Health . en-GB.
  29. Web site: Welcome to the new aidsmap . 2022-09-23 . aidsmap.com . 19 July 2019 . en.
  30. nazprojectlondon. B6OzQhqFqaM. @aidsmap have won the INNOVATION AWARD! CONGRATS!!. 18 December 2019. Naz Project London.
  31. nazprojectlondon. B6OzV6VlqPb. @aidsmap have won the MEDIA AWARD! CONGRATS!!. 18 December 2019. Naz Project London. .
  32. Web site: Adewale . Dami . HIV support charity closes after 37 years . Third Sector . 15 July 2024.
  33. Web site: Watson . Graeme . Charity NAM aidsmap set to close after 37 years . Out in Perth . 15 July 2024.
  34. Web site: Watson . Graeme . Charity NAM aidsmap set to close after 37 years . Out in Perth . 15 July 2024.

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