Health needs of Zimbabweans are poorly recognised in UK

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7472.979-b

BMJ 2004;329:979 (23 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7472.979-b

Letter

Health needs of Zimbabweans are poorly recognised in UK

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—In 2002 Zimbabweans were the second largest groupof asylum seekers coming to the United Kingdom, 7695 asylumapplications having been made,¹ and they constitute one of thelargest migrant groups of English speaking peoples from a developingcountry for 25 years. The lack of language barriers may helpthis community to use the NHS more effectively than earliermigrants, but they may face discrimination nevertheless. Whatis known, and what needs to be known about the healthcare needsof Zimbabweans?

We found that most published work focuses on HIV and sexualhealth. The prevalence of HIV seropositivity in Zimbabwe isestimated to be 25%. The proportion of all reported HIV casesin the United Kingdom acquired in Africa (90% heterosexually)is over 20% and growing.² Several factors may pose problemswhen treating Zimbabweans with HIV: patients may present late³and they are highly mobile (partly because of . . . [Full text of this article]

Steve Gillam, general practitioner

Lea Vale Medical Group, Luton LU1 1HH sjg67@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Raj Khanchandani, general practitioner

Biscot Road Surgery, Luton LU3 1AH

Melusi Ndebele, specialist in sexual health promotion and African communities

Luton Teaching Primary Care Trust, Luton LU1 1JD