Don’t delay – test today if you think you could have HIV.
That’s the message going out to Salford folk as part of National HIV Testing week which begins Saturday November 21.
Health chiefs’ fear around 200 people in the city could be HIV positive without knowing it and want to stress early diagnosis and treatment can mean a long and healthy life.
Earlier this year Salford City Council signed up to the national Halve It campaign, launched by 21 HIV charities, which aims to halve the number of people diagnosed late with HIV and those living with undiagnosed HIV.
City Mayor Ian Stewart, who chairs the city’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said supporting the campaign was about improving quality of life and life expectancy for local residents.
“Here in Salford we have high rates of HIV. Five out of every 1000 people aged 15 to 59 have been diagnosed with it which is more than twice the national average,” he said.
“We have over 700 people receiving HIV related care and 34 new cases diagnosed every year. If we follow the national pattern we could be looking at around 200 people in Salford who don’t know they have HIV and could benefit from early diagnosis and treatment. They also risk spreading the infection to others.
“We want to make sure that people are fully aware of how to protect themselves against the risk of contracting HIV but also what to do and where to get advice if they suspect they might have the disease.”
Dr Hamish Stedman, GP at The Lakes Medical Centre in Swinton and Chair at Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Early diagnosis means early treatment and a much better chance of living a longer and healthier life with HIV than might otherwise be possible.
“Please don’t wait, have the test if you think you might be at risk. Nowadays our medicines can give you a nearly normal length of life”.
Benjamin Goorney, Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV at The Goodman Centre which is part of Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, said: “With prompt diagnosis, proper monitoring and treatment with anti-retroviral drugs, life expectancy for patients with HIV can be near normal and is very much in line with that of any other chronic diseases.
“It is important to realise that a person may be infected with HIV but exhibit no symptoms for a number of years so they may be unaware of the problem. The key is to normalise HIV testing, which is now routinely available, not just in sexual health clinics, but also in primary care, hospital settings and the voluntary sector.”
Rob Cookson, Director of Business Development for Manchester’s LGBT Foundation, said: “Gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by HIV. It is really important for everyone to know their HIV status. Getting tested for HIV has never been easier. With early diagnosis, people can live long and healthy lives.”
For information on testing and clinic times, adults should contact Salford Royal on 0161 212 5717 or visit :www.srft.nhs.uk/about-us/depts/shs/contact-us/
For more information on LGBT Foundation’s testing services for gay and bisexual men, please visit: http://lgbt.foundation/testing or call 0345 3 30 30 30.
The LGBT Foundation is also running a free, drop in advice session at their office, 5 Richmond St, Manchester M1 3HFfrom 1pm to 3pm on Saturday November 28.
Salford Royal Foundation Trust is running free drop in sexual health screens and same day HIV testing at the Lanceburn Centre, Churchill Way, Salford, M6 5QX on Monday November 23 from 9am to 11.50am and 1.10pm to 4.40pm, Wednesday November 25 from 1.10pm to 4.40pm and Thursday November 26 also from 1.10pm to 4.40pm
Young people should contact Brook on 0161 622 9848 or visit their website:www.brook.org.uk/find-a-service/regions/salford
The Halve It campaign is run by 21 HIV charities including the Terrence Higgins Trust and the Elton John Aids Foundation, patient and clinical groups and industry and is backed by both national and local government.
