European Testing Week and World AIDS Day 2024 – see news section for more info.
Testing Week & World AIDS Day 2024
European HIV and Hepatitis testing week will be celebrated this year between the 18th and 25th of November 2024. It leads up to World AIDS Day, which is always held on the 1st of December; this year on Sunday 1st December 2024.
By raising awareness about the benefits of testing for HIV and hepatitis, more people become knowledgeable about their risks, understand that there is effective treatment available and are aware of their HIV and/or hepatitis status. It’s better to know your status as soon as possible because today people living with HIV and/or hepatitis B can live well with a long-life expectancy. When treatment starts early; and those with hepatitis C can be cured.
Testing week offers NHS Lanarkshire and partners the opportunity to work together and raise awareness about the benefits of, and accessibility of testing. In hopes that more people are informed about maximising positive sexual health and to understand that effective treatment is available and where to access this.
Testing is offered by NHS Lanarkshire across a number of sexual health clinics throughout Lanarkshire. You can also order home self-sampling kit’s, which are bookable online via the Lanarkshire Sexual health website. These are free, confidential and easy to use. If you are eligible you can also order a free HIV self test online through Terrence Higgins Trust (THT). You can also seek testing for HIV through your GP.
The most recent report from Health Protection Scotland (HPS) shows that up until 31 December 2023, a total of 6761 people were recorded as being diagnosed and living with HIV in Scotland. It is estimated that there are around 500 people living in Scotland who have HIV but have not been diagnosed, making testing very important.
In 2023, 385 new HIV-positive results were recorded in Scotland and of these, 126 were first ever diagnoses and 259 had been previously diagnosed elsewhere but were newly reported in Scotland during this period. Of the 126 first ever new diagnoses recorded 62 (49%) were heterosexually acquired and therefore the largest proportion. 34 (27%) were among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Among people who inject drugs, first ever diagnoses remains relatively low compared to other groups at risk.
HIV overall continues to disproportionately affect men who have sex with men, as well as individuals of black African ethnicity. However, HIV can affect anyone and there are still people who have HIV but don’t know it – making access to and availability of testing vital.
The red ribbon is the international symbol of HIV awareness, support for people living with HIV and the acknowledgement of so many lives lost over the last 50 years. It is a simple and powerful way to challenge stigma and prejudice around HIV and also shows support for people living with HIV. HIV positive individuals who are on effective treatment can become undetectable, meaning HIV cannot be transmitted to another person through sex. The message U = U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) demonstrates the huge steps forward in treatment.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to raise awareness with both staff and members of the public about HIV and AIDS and directly challenge and address associated stigma. It exists to shine a light on the real experiences of people living with HIV today, while celebrating the strength, resilience and diversity of the communities most affected. It is a moment to inspire the leadership needed to create a future where HIV doesn’t stand in the way of anyone’s life. One way to do this is to watch and share the national campaign, developed by THT, focussing on the key message “stigma is more harmful than HIV”.
This World AIDS Day, the theme focuses on: Take the rights path. With human rights at the centre, with communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
As we remember those we’ve lost to HIV, join with our community to promise, pledge and take a stand against stigma for people living with HIV – because it’s more than a ribbon, World AIDS Day | Terrence Higgins Trust
Show your support for World AIDS Day – wear a red ribbon.