An annual campaign, Give HIV The Finger, is helping to raise awareness of how people can get tested for HIV, helping to reduce the number of people living undiagnosed with the virus.
Testing for HIV can be done at sexual health clinics across Bath and North East Somerset, including the Riverside Clinic and at GPs.
As part of National HIV Testing Week from 17th January, until the end of the campaign on 13th February, online home testing kits for HIV can be ordered for free at freetesting.hiv.
Councillor Dine Romero, B&NES Council’s cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture, is sharing her experience of sampling one of the home testing kits herself to show the local authority’s support for the campaign.
Councillor Romero said: “Although tests are widely available in healthcare settings, having to attend in person can be a barrier for some people.
“That’s why it’s so important that the tests are available to order online straight to our doors. As part of the HIV Testing Week campaign I tried one of the tests myself – it was painless and took two minutes.
“Results are sent back by text message within three days, so there’s not long to wait.”
Becky Reynolds, Director of Public Health for Bath and North East Somerset, said: “Although nationally the number of people diagnosed with HIV fell by a third between 2019 and 2020, more awareness still needs to be raised.
“One in 20 people with HIV are unaware they have it, increasing the risk of passing HIV on to sexual partners.
“In 2020, 42% of people first diagnosed in England were diagnosed late, which delays treatment and sadly increases the risk of death.
“People can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms, so regular testing is the only way to know your HIV status.
“If you do have HIV, finding out means you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus on to anyone else.
“There is free treatment and support available to you. Please protect yourself and others by getting a test if you think you may be at risk.”
Anyone diagnosed with HIV in the UK can access free treatment and support.
Contact the Riverside Clinic in Bath to find out more about the treatment and support available. Email [email protected] or call 01225 826855.
National HIV Testing Week began on 7th February and is produced by the Terrence Higgins Trust for HIV Prevention England, the Government-funded national HIV prevention programme for England.
To find out more, visit: https://www.hivpreventionengland.org.uk/.
