Free drop-in sessions for National HIV Testing Week in Redbridge
HIV Testing week leads up to World AIDS day on December 1 - Credit: Getty Images/Wavebreak Media
The national week runs from November 21 to 28, ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1.
A mobile bus clinic is offering free HIV testing to promote early diagnosis.
HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust’s Redbridge HIV Prevention Team are offering rapid HIV tests in community spaces across the borough.
Advances in medical treatment mean that early diagnosis and treatment allow people to live ordinary active lives.
Despite this, significant proportions of people infected with HIV in Redbridge are undiagnosed and unaware of their infection, the charity warns.
A spokesman said: “There is a high rate of late HIV diagnosis in the borough.
“Early diagnosis is the key to getting into treatment as soon as possible.
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“Regardless of your sexuality, race, gender, everyone is welcome to come down and get tested.”
An estimated 103,700 people are living with HIV in the UK.
Of these, 17 per cent are undiagnosed and do not know about their HIV infection.
Tests will be carried out confidentially by an expert assistant practitioner in the mobile clinic.
The rapid test will involve finger-prick testing, which gives results in 60 seconds.
The mobile clinic will also provide chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening, C-Card sign-up for condoms, tuberculosis awareness and symptom checking, as well as diabetes screening and heart and blood pressure monitoring at certain sites.
Information about a range of general and sexual health services will also be distributed wherever the bus goes.
For a full list of locations the bus will be visiting, visit here
