On Monday 24th November, Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea and Fulham, joined Lord Fowler in Parliament at HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust’s National HIV Testing Week reception. The event saw MPs come together to pledge support for efforts to halt the spread of HIV during National HIV Testing Week (22nd – 30th November).
Last week, Public Health England (PHE) announced that there are now almost 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK, around a quarter of whom are undiagnosed and therefore far more likely to pass the virus on. In 2013, there were 1,936 people living with the virus in Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea.
Coordinated by Terrence Higgins Trust on behalf of HIV Prevention England1, National HIV Testing Week has seen a range of community events taking place across the country to encourage those most at risk from the virus to take a test.
The event was also attended by Dr David Asboe, a consultant in HIV Medicine and sexual health at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Dr Asboe is an expert in antiretroviral treatment and resistance and was this year appointed as Chair of the British HIV Association.
Greg said: “I am delighted to support the effort to stop HIV. We know that there are more people than ever living with HIV locally, and far too many of these are still undiagnosed. National HIV Testing Week is the perfect time to remind people that HIV testing is fast and simple – and it’s one of the best weapons we have to stop the spread of HIV.
"I congratulate all my constituents who took part and got tested this week, but anybody who wasn’t able to get tested and still wants to can do so at any time via their local sexual health or GUM clinic or their GP.”
Dr Rosemary Gillespie, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Greg Hands is helping to raise awareness of the effort to reduce undiagnosed HIV. We now know that the vast majority of HIV infections come from people who don’t yet know they have the virus. The more support and awareness we can build for initiatives like National HIV Testing Week, the stronger we are in the fight against HIV.”
National HIV Testing Week ran from Saturday 22nd – Sunday 30th November, and encouraged people to test their HIV status, not only during that week but throughout the year. The week 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). Anyone can learn more about National HIV Testing Week, pledge their support for the campaign and find their nearest testing service, by visiting www.startswithme.org.uk.