Aidsmap
Aidsmap is a website which publishes independent, accurate and accessible information and news about HIV and AIDS. The aidsmap website was run by a charity based in the United Kingdom, NAM aidsmap. The charity closed in July 2024 due to challenges securing funding but announced in March 2025 that, thanks to support from Terrence Higgins Trust, the site would "be continuing its news reporting from international HIV conferences and elsewhere so that expert patients, advocates and clinicians have access to the latest research". "NAM" originally stood for National AIDS Manual and referred to a 1987 compendium of all information about HIV published for non-scientists in England. When NAM became an international organisation with the introduction of its aidsmap website, 'NAM' was no longer used as an acronym and there was no longer any particular "aids manual" being maintained. Aidsmap's vision is of a world where HIV is no longer a threat to health or happiness.
 |
 | |
| Formation | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Peter Scott |
| Purpose | Independent, accurate & accessible information about HIV |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Executive Director | Matthew Hodson (to 2024) |
| Website | www.aidsmap.com  |
Formerly called | National Aids Manual |
Aidsmap is a website which publishes independent, accurate and accessible information and news about HIV and AIDS.[1][2][3][4] The aidsmap website was run by a charity based in the United Kingdom, NAM aidsmap.[1] The charity closed in July 2024 due to challenges securing funding[5] but announced in March 2025 that, thanks to support from Terrence Higgins Trust, the site would "be continuing its news reporting from international HIV conferences and elsewhere so that expert patients, advocates and clinicians have access to the latest research".[6]
"NAM" originally stood for National AIDS Manual and referred to a 1987 compendium of all information about HIV published for non-scientists in England.[7][8][2][9] When NAM became an international organisation with the introduction of its aidsmap website,[3] 'NAM' was no longer used as an acronym and there was no longer any particular "aids manual" being maintained.[10][11][2]
Aidsmap's vision is of a world where HIV is no longer a threat to health or happiness.
Timeline of work
[edit]NAM was founded in 1987[2] by Peter Scott,[7][12] 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.[13]
Subsequent Directors were Will Anderson (to 1996),[14] Colin Nee (1996–2001),[14][15] Caspar Thomson (2001–2016)[16][14] and Matthew Hodson (2016–2024).[16][17][18]
In 1992 the organisation began publishing the newsletter called the HIV Treatment Update,[19] which was designed to give patients the information they needed to help direct their choices for HIV treatment.[13][20][21][22]
In 1998 aidsmap.com was launched as an online resource[2][23][24] for all printed materials. It was a partnership project involving NAM and the British HIV Association,[24][23][25] and later the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. The original site's senior editors were Edward King[26] and Keith Alcorn.[27] From 2018 to 2024, the managing editor was Roger Pebody.[28]
In 2006 aidsmap.com was awarded first prize in the Patient Information Website category of the 2006 British Medical Association's Medical Books Competition.[29]
In 2019, NAM aidsmap launched its new website after a major redevelopment project.[30]
In December 2019, aidsmapLIVE, an HIV information series broadcast on NAM aidsmap's social media channels, won both the Innovation and Media award at the nOscars, hosted by Naz Project London.[31][32]
In 2024, NAM aidsmap faced a funding crisis and was forced to close.[33] In response, Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (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.[34] 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]
In March 2025, it was announced that, thanks to support from Terrence Higgins Trust, aidsmap would "be continuing its news reporting from international HIV conferences and elsewhere so that expert patients, advocates and clinicians have access to the latest research",[6] starting with the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections[6] on 9–13 March in San Francisco.[35]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "NAM PUBLICATIONS - Charity 1011220". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Morris, Martin (2017). "Aidsmap.com: A Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Information Resource". Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet. 21 (4): 402–409. doi:10.1080/15398285.2017.1377545. S2CID 80617999. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ a b Silverman, Taylor; Asante, Nicole; van den Berg, Jacob J (16 October 2018). "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. 4 (4) e11384. doi:10.2196/11384. ISSN 2369-2960. PMC 6231722. PMID 30327291.
- ^ Shelling, Gene M. (2006). AIDS Policies and Programs. Nova Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60021-217-8.
- ^ "Thank you and farewell". aidsmap. July 2024.
- ^ a b c "aidsmap returns with reporting from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI)". aidsmap. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Archives of NAM (National AIDS Manual)". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ Anthony, Pinching (1993). "Book reviews". Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London. 27 (1): 88–89. PMC 5396607.
- ^ Mann, Cass (1998) [16 October]. "Aids charity 'should not have lost its funding'". Kingston Informer. p. 4.
- ^ "HIV & AIDS Information :: Who we are - Our name". aidsmap. 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- ^ "Episode 16: HIV Myth Buster Special". www.sextalk.radio. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "Medicine and the Media". British Medical Journal. 310 (6979): 607. 4 March 1995. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC 2548979.
- ^ a b "HIV & AIDS Information :: Thirty years on". aidsmap.com. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- ^ a b c "NAM PUBLICATIONS filing history". Companies House. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ Weatherburn, P., et al. "What do you need? 2001-02: findings from a national survey of people living with HIV." (2002).
- ^ a b "Meet Matthew Hodson, the New Executive Director of NAM". POZ. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ "This year's 30 charity leaders on social media: be bold to succeed". The Guardian. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ "Matthew Hodson stands down as aidsmap's Executive Director after 8 years". aidsmap. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ 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. ISSN 0939-351X. PMID 13677353.
- ^ "AIDS Treatment Update: 15% discount to NAM Manual subscribers / NAM". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ Lau, R. K. (1996). "Genitourinary medicine and the Internet. No 2". Sexually Transmitted Infections. 72 (5): 380–381. doi:10.1136/sti.72.5.380. PMC 1195710. PMID 8976859.
- ^ "Notes". British Medical Journal. 304 (6828): 718.2. 14 March 1992. doi:10.1136/bmj.304.6828.718-e. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC 1881552.
- ^ a b "aidsmap.com: the direct route to information on aids / NAM, British HIV Association". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Great Britain launches new Aids web site". The Nation. Vol. 23. Thailand. Reuters. 1998 [24 Jun 1998]. p. 8.
- ^ Shafer, R. W.; Deresinski, S. C. (2000). "Human Immunodeficiency Virus on the Web: A Guided Tour". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 31 (2): 568–577. doi:10.1086/313952. PMC 2573401. PMID 10987723.
- ^ "Edward King Archive". Bishopsgate Institute. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "An introduction to aidsmap.com: HIV treatment information on the world wide web / Keith Alcorn". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Roger Pebody Managing Editor". aidsmap. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Electronic patient information awards announced". Digital Health. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to the new aidsmap". aidsmap. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Naz Project London [@nazprojectlondon]; (18 December 2019). "@aidsmap have won the INNOVATION AWARD! CONGRATS!!" – via Instagram.
- ^ Naz Project London [@nazprojectlondon]; (18 December 2019). "@aidsmap have won the MEDIA AWARD! CONGRATS!!" – via Instagram. .
- ^ Adewale, Dami. "HIV support charity closes after 37 years". Third Sector. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ a b Watson, Graeme (2 July 2024). "Charity NAM aidsmap set to close after 37 years". OutInPerth. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "CROI 2025 in San Francisco, California". Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2025.