AN AIDS awareness DVD made in East Lancashire is to be shown at schools, youth groups and colleges in the North West.

The film, called HIV: Keeping it Quiet and Still Ignoring It?, made by the East Lancashire HIV Prevention Partnership, smashes myths surrounding AIDS and the HIV virus, as well as raising awareness.

It was launched this week, and shows clips of interviews carried out with 100 East Lancashire people, as well as personal stories from people living with HIV.

Allan Clinch, senior sexual health officer at the Jarman Centre for sexual health services in Blackburn, said although people diagnosed with HIV now lived much longer, healthier lives than a decade ago, infection rates were on the rise.

So he said it was still vital that everyone was aware of the dangers.

He said: “This film has been two years in the making and we are really pleased with it. We’ve been learning as we’ve made the film.

“Raising awareness is a big part of what we do, and with HIV infections increasing, we thought a DVD was the best way to do it, particularly among the young people we were targeting.

“When we were interviewing people, we were looking for the myths people still thought were true, and found an awful lot believed some very silly things: that you could catch HIV from a toilet seat, for example, and it brought it home to us how much ignorance there still is.

“But we also want to make sure people understand how serious the disease is, not just physically, but in terms of forming relationships, mental health problems and financial difficulties.

“We have already had 150 people signing up to say they want to show it, and the University of Central Lancashire is looking at putting it in its sexual health package for students.”

HIV infections increased by nine per cent across the North West in the past year – 817 new cases were reported in 2007, with most infections now caused by heterosexual sex. Rates are increasing more quickly in ethnic minority communities, acording to health chiefs.

The Jarman Centre, James Street, offers sexual health and drugs advice and support, as well as tests for HIV and hepatitis. Workers there lead the HIV Prevention Partnership.

The DVD’s release comes ahead of World Aids Day – on December 1.