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Health

National HIV Testing Week

Besi Besemar October 1, 2014

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) will be running a free rapid HIV testing service in Brighton and Hove during National HIV Testing Week.

National HIV Testing WeekNational HIV Testing Week is a national campaign coordinated by THT and HIV Prevention England that encourages communities who are at risk of contracting HIV to test to improve early diagnosis. It runs from November 22-30.

In 2012, there were an estimated 6,587 people living with HIV in Kent, Surrey and Sussex and one in five of them were undiagnosed. Gay and bisexual men are one of the groups most at risk of contracting HIV, with 3,250 new infections in the UK last year.

THT is inviting gay and bisexual men to come to one of its drop-in sessions during National HIV Testing week, to talk about anything to do with their sexual health and get tested. Testing involves a finger prick blood test, providing results in 20 minutes. Trained staff and volunteers will provide one-to-one support before and after the test, and anyone who tests positive will be referred on to a specialist clinic.

The free rapid HIV testing service will be available at the following locations:

Monday 24 – Friday 28 November, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at THT’s Brighton centre on Ship Street

Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 November, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at THT’s Brighton centre on Ship Street

Every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Brighton Sauna, 75 Grand Parade, BN2 9JA

Marc Tweed, Centre Manager for THT in Brighton, said: “With around one in five people with HIV in Brighton and Hove remaining undiagnosed, we need to do everything we can to get people testing. Our local sessions offer a safe and confidential space for anyone who wants to take an HIV test, or just receive free advice and information on sexual health. We hope that during National HIV Testing Week we can encourage gay and bisexual men who have never tested, or have not tested in a while, to come to any one of our drop-in sessions.“

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