THE safe sex message appears to be sinking in in Warwickshire with fewer people diagnosed with HIV in 2012-2014 than in 2011-13 and the number of people being diagnosed late with HIV reducing from 61 per cent to 39.1 per cent in the county.
However, new national figures show an estimated 103,700 people in the UK were living with HIV in 2014, with around 17 per cent (18,100) unaware and at risk of unknowingly passing on the virus to others sparking calls for more people to get tested in Warwickshire.
This comes ahead of National HIV Testing Week, which gets underway on Sunday, with a focus on asking local people to come forward and have a simple test in a bid to boost early detection rates.
HIV affects a wide range of communities; especially men who have sex with men and people of Black African ethnic origin. However, HIV can affect anyone.
The good news is that, if you are in a high risk group, you can now order a free HIV sampling kit – a simple finger-prick blood test to take in the privacy of your own home. It’s available at www.freetesting.hiv
However, anyone can have an HIV test if they think they may be at risk. To arrange to tested for a range of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, in a Warwickshire service, visit www.sexualhealthwarwickshire.nhs.uk .
Dr John Linnane, Warwickshire County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “HIV is not the disease it used to be. It can be easily prevented by making sure always to use condoms. It can be diagnosed with a simple blood test, and treatment is very effective when the disease is picked up early.”
