Mayor of Ipswich John Cook takes HIV test and encourages others to do the same to mark National HIV Testing Week

A Suffolk mayor has taken a HIV test and is urging others in the county to do the same to mark National HIV Testing Week.

Mayor of Ipswich John Cook took the test, which involves a quick finger prick, in the town today to promote the awareness week, which pushes for regular testing amongst most-affected population groups.

Mr Cook said: “HIV testing is quick, easy, painless and free. My test was just a simple finger prick and I got my result in less than 15 minutes.

"HIV can affect anyone and testing is the only way to find out your HIV status. Please help us to end new cases of HIV by 2030 by getting tested and encouraging your friends and family to test.”

Data from the Terrence Higgins Trust, which provides services surrounding HIV and sexual health, showed 25 adults were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2021.

Of these, 44.4 per cent of HIV diagnoses were made at a late stage, meaning they were estimated to have lived with HIV unaware for around three to five years and damage to the immune system has already begun.

The rate of new HIV diagnosis per 100,000 population among people aged 15 years or above in the County was 3.3, which is lower than rates in both the East of England (4.8 per 100,000) and the rest of England (4.8 per 100,000)

The charity are urging people, particularly those most affected including gay and bisexual men and Black African men and women, to get tested to mark National HIV Testing Week, which runs from Monday February 6 to Sunday February 12.

In Suffolk people can arrange an appointment to test for HIV by either contacting Terrence Higgins Trust Suffolk at sexualhealthsuffolk@tht.org.uk, or calling their local iCaSH Clinic on 0300 300 3030.

They can also order a home testing kit via the iCaSH or Terrence Higgins Trust websites.

Eloise Brame, Service Manager at Terrence Higgins Trust Suffolk said: “This National HIV Testing Week we’re encouraging people to quickly and easily get tested by offering easy access to testing.”

“Getting tested regularly should be something we’re all doing in order to protect ourselves. Testing for HIV is quick and easy. If your results come back positive, we can offer all the support, advice and information you need.”

“People living with HIV and on effective treatment can not only live long fulfilled lives after, but they also can’t pass on the virus to others.

"Effective HIV treatment works by reducing the amount of the virus in the blood to undetectable levels. This means that the levels of HIV become so low that the virus cannot be passed on.”