Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity, and its partners HIV Prevention England are asking gay and bisexual men to pledge support for this year’s National HIV Testing Week, to help halt the spread of infection within the community.
Gay and bisexual men remain one of the groups most at risk of HIV in UK. At present, one in four gay men with HIV is undiagnosed and therefore more likely to pass the virus on than someone who has tested and is on treatment.
Paul Ward, Acting Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said:
“We need the whole community to get behind National HIV Testing Week and spread the word. To halve the amount of undiagnosed HIV among gay and bi men, we need two men to come forward for every single man who tested last year. We must therefore raise the roof on testing.”
The It Starts With Me campaign is focused on curbing new infections by raising awareness and reducing the level of undiagnosed HIV within communities. The National HIV Testing Week web service, It Starts With Me is now inviting men to add a short pledge of support to a new page on its website.
It is possible to pledge in various forms including written statements, personal stories and videos. The pledges will ultimately come together to form an online wall of community voices.
Paul Ward added:
“This is one thing you can do, right now.”
Once they have pledged to take a test during National HIV Testing Week, the website can assist gay and bisexual men by referring them to an online directory with details of their nearest testing service. If someone has tested recently, they are instead directed to a page where they can book an appointment in the near future.
National HIV Testing Week runs from Friday 22 – Friday November 29, and will coincide with the first ever European HIV Testing Week which is supported by major public health bodies, including Public Health England, the British HIV Association (BHIVA), and the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH).
To pledge your support, CLICK HERE:
There is an option to remain anonymous, while another allows people to share pledges with their friends on Facebook.
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