Tower Hamlets Council is supporting a unique London-wide campaign to cut HIV infection across the capital. It’s the first time there’s been such a London-wide campaign, but there is a very big need for it – research shows there are 33,863 Londoners diagnosed with HIV, including the highest number of people living with HIV in England.
In Tower Hamlets there are approximately 1,300 people living with HIV, of which 123 were newly diagnosed in 2013. There are thought to be an additional 400 people living in the borough infected with HIV, who have not yet been diagnosed. Dr Somen Banerjee, Tower Hamlets Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “I encourage people to have an HIV test as the earlier HIV is diagnosed, the more likely treatment will be successful.
“Getting tested at least once a year or more often if you are very sexually active as well as practising safer sex are both important in preventing HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections. Testing for HIV is free, confidential and very straightforward; you can arrange for an HIV test at your local GP practice or attend a specialist sexual health service at any GUM service throughout London.”
“Do It London” is the public name being given to the London HIV Prevention Programme (LHPP). The aim is to encourage people, especially those from black African backgrounds or gay and bisexual men, to have regular HIV tests – because early diagnosis is helpful, as Dr Banerjee describes. Alongside this, the campaign also encourages condom use so that sexually active people can protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
Posters and leaflets with the distinctive “Do it London” message are being distributed across London and will be sent to all GP practices and community pharmacists locally. There will be other promotional activities and outreach work, as well as condom distribution, in a £3.4 million programme (funded by London Councils, which represents the 32 London boroughs and the City of London) which will take pace over the next three years.
All sexual health clinics across London offer free and confidential testing, including the Ambrose King’s Centre at the Royal London Hospital. You can also be tested at your local GP’s by making an appointment.
As part of the campaign, Positive East, London’s largest community-based HIV charity, will be providing free HIV testing sessions. You can get your results in minutes and testing is completely confidential. Drop-in testing sessions take place every Saturday from 11am to 3pm and Wednesday evenings from 5.30 to 8.30pm at Positive East, 159 Mile End Road E1 4AQ.
•For more information on Positive East and local, free confidential HIV testing go to: www.iwantanhivtest.org.uk
•For further information on sexual health, including where you can go for a free and confidential HIV test locally, go to: www.sho-me.nhs.uk
•Find out more about the Do It London campaign at www.doitlondon.org
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