Terrence Higgins Trust and HIV Prevention England (HPE) are calling on organisations across England to start planning activities to mark the third annual National HIV Testing Week, which this year runs from 22nd – 30th November.
National HIV Testing Week was established by Terrence Higgins Trust and HPE in 2012 to increase testing rates among gay and bisexual men and African communities, the two groups at increased risk of infection in the UK. Each year, hundreds of sexual health clinics, local authorities, businesses, charities and community groups around the country hold special testing events or find other ways to raise awareness of testing during the week.
Cary James, Head of Health Improvement at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We were thrilled with the response to National HIV Testing Week last year, with more than 300 organisations taking part and tens of thousands of people coming forward for testing. We’re keen to build upon that momentum this year, and would encourage organisations – from sexual health clinics and local authorities, to faith-based organisations, charities and community groups – to visit the website, pledge your support, and help get the message out there that we can stop HIV.”
In the UK, gay men and African communities are the groups most at risk of HIV. Currently, around one in five people with HIV remains undiagnosed and therefore more likely to pass the virus on than someone who has tested and is on treatment. HIV Prevention England’s It Starts With Me campaign focuses on curbing new infections by increasing testing rates and reducing the level of undiagnosed HIV within high-risk groups.
