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Wear it campaign

Wear it campaign for World AIDS day

World AIDS Day and free HIV testing

This World AIDS Day, The Terence Higgins Trust is asking people to “Wear it” – encouraging people to wear their red ribbon and stand together in solidarity for a world where HIV stigma is a thing of the past.

Fighting stigma is one of Terrence Higgins Trust’s priorities. Stigma leaves people isolated and ostracised. This World AIDS Day is a chance to wear our red ribbons to show we are challenging stigma and to invite our friends, family and colleagues to do the same.

Text RIBBON to 70080 to donate £1 and get your FREE ribbon. The Trust will contact you by phone and SMS to collect your address details in order to send you your ribbon and to tell you more about their work and how you can be part of it.  You can also get a free ribbon by emailing ribbon@tht.org.uk.

National HIV Testing Week launches in Hastings

I'm Testing!

I’m Testing!

National HIV Testing Week is being run by Terrence Higgins Trust, across Hastings. Testing Week takes place from 21 November 2015 and encourages people across the country to take an HIV test. Now in its fourth year, National HIV Testing Week (NHTW) promotes HIV testing to gay or bisexual men and black African men and women. These groups make up seven out of ten people in the UK living with HIV.

During National HIV Testing Week, Terrence Higgins Trust will be working in partnership with Hastings Station Plaza sexual health clinic and The Links Project to offer free HIV testing on Wednesday 25 November from 12.30 – 4pm at LINKS Community Project, Concordia Hall, Church Road, St. Leonards-On-Sea, TN37 6HB.

Testing is free and confidential, and involves a finger-prick blood test, with results available within 15 minutes. Those taking a test will be given information and support before and after the test, and anyone who tests positive will be referred quickly to a specialist clinic.

Station Plaza sexual health clinic also offers a fully integrated sexually transmitted infection and HIV testing and contraceptive service. It is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 7.15pm, on a drop in basis and booked appointments are also available for specialist services. There are outreach clinics in some outlying towns. For more information about the Hastings Station Plaza services, please call (01424) 464750.

Daniel Murray, Centre Manager, said “National HIV Testing Week gives us a great opportunity to draw attention to how quick and easy modern tests are. There are far more reasons to know your HIV status than there are not to, so if it’s been a while since your last test, please contact the team, or visit your nearest testing service.”

“HIV testing is fast, easy and confidential. There are now a range of testing options available from postal tests, to GUM clinics, community sites and home testing.

“If you test positive, early detection, monitoring and effective treatment means that your life largely carries on as before. Late diagnosis can cause serious health problems and early death.”

6,151 people were newly diagnosed in the UK in 2014. This figure was 6,032 in 2013 and 6,353 in 2010 (7,893 in 2005), 75 of new diagnoses were in men, 25 per cent in women.

National HIV Testing Week is co-ordinated by HIV Prevention England (HPE), funded by Public health England, with support, partnership and participation from organisations in the public, statutory and private sectors. The programme promotes the benefits of regular testing and treatment for both the individual and community. It is lead by Terrence Higgins Trust.

For more information about services that Terrence Higgins Trust offers in East Sussex, please call (01323) 649 927 or email info.eastbourne@tht.org.uk.

The Terence Higgins Trust operates free, confidential and non-judgemental services across East Sussex, supporting those who have an HIV diagnosis. Helping people with managing side effects, sex and relationships, understanding medication, talking to doctors and developing a healthy lifestyle, the Trust offers an invaluable service. 

Terence Higgins Trust website here.

World AIDS Day website here.

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Posted 15:15 Wednesday, Nov 18, 2015 In: Health Matters

1 Comment

  1. Zelly Restorick

    I very much admire the work of the Terence Higgins Trust – and know that the service they provide both nationally and locally is both beneficial and invaluable.

    However, the specific targeting of certain groups seems strange to me. There has been a 25% rise in women with HIV; bi-sexual men have sex with women – and gay men sleep with heterosexual men. HIV can potentially affect anyone. Surely targeting specific groups means that other people feel they are immune?

    Safe sex is something for us all to consider, not only in relation to disease transmitted or received – but also unwanted pregnancy.

    Zelly Restorick

    Comment by Zelly Restorick — Thursday, Nov 19, 2015 @ 08:52

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