People are being reminded of the importance of regular testing as National HIV Testing Week gets underway.
Run by HIV Prevention England, the annual event highlights how regular testing is helping to reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV, or who are diagnosed late.
Testing is free, quick and confidential, and the only way for people to know their HIV status. Anyone diagnosed with HIV will be able to access free treatment and support. Testing for HIV is also useful for HIV-negative people who are considering interventions such as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “Testing has a key part to play in our efforts to stop HIV, and it’s a good idea to get checked once a year.
“People can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms, and an estimated 4,700 people are currently living with undiagnosed HIV in England.
“If you have HIV, finding out means you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus onto anyone else. There are many ways to test – at a sexual health clinic, your GP or by ordering a test online, so please take up the offer this National HIV Testing Week.”
Dr Prita Banerjee, Consultant/Clinical Director in Sexual Health and HIV at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, added: “It’s time we made every effort to end the stigma around HIV and normalised HIV testing for everyone.”
To order free test kits, please visit It Starts With Me or Free Testing HIV. For more information about HIV, and confidential and non-judgemental advice and support, please visit Embrace, the Wolverhampton sexual health service, at Embrace.
National HIV Testing Week runs from (Monday 10 February, 2025 until Sunday 16 February. For more details, visit HIV Prevention England.