The UK Health Security North West’s Sexual Health Lead, Dr Evdokia Dardamissis has highlighted the importance of HIV testing.
It’s National HIV Testing Week so we’re calling on our partners across Cheshire and Merseyside to raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing.
An annual event, National HIV Testing Week is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and delivered by Terrence Higgins Trust. The work is part of HIV Prevention England, the national HIV prevention programme for England delivering a nationally co-ordinated programme of HIV prevention work with UK-based black African people and gay men/men who have sex with men.
An estimated 4,700 people currently live with undiagnosed HIV in England. In 2021 there were 321 new HIV diagnoses in the North West (12% of all England diagnoses). Although increasing, testing rates are still below 2019 levels. National HIV Testing Week provides an important opportunity to end new HIV cases by 2030 in England by increasing testing and reaching people who do not currently test for HIV. Regular testing helps to reduce the numbers of undiagnosed people and those diagnosed late, as well as raise awareness and increase knowledge of HIV to
Our main messages:
- People can have HIV for a long time without any symptoms and could be passing on the virus without knowing. So testing is the only way to know your HIV status.
- Testing for HIV is quick and free, confidential and easy. There are many ways to test including via your local sexual health clinic, your GP, through HIV charities or by ordering a test online.
- If you have HIV, finding out means that you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing on the virus to others.
- Anyone diagnosed with HIV in the UK can access free treatment and support. The sooner you start treatment, the less likely you are to become seriously ill. People who are diagnosed early and get on treatment can expect to live a normal lifespan.
Call to action
During National HIV Testing Week people can order a free self-test which they can take at home receiving a result in just 15 minutes, or a postal test where they take a sample themselves and send it off to a lab which will then contact them with their result. Free HIV test kits are available online via www.freetesting.hiv
We have the tools to stop HIV. Testing, treatment, condoms and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). Each of us can play our part.
For more information:
It Starts With Me: https://www.startswithme.org.uk/
National HIV Testing Week returns for 2025 | Terrence Higgins Trust
Free HIV Kits for testing at Home | Freetesting HIV
