Bristol West MP visits Terrence Higgins Trust’s Bristol Centre ahead of World AIDS Day
Stephen Williams, MP for Bristol West, will visit HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust’s centre in Bristol on Friday 30th November in an effort to encourage more local people to test for the virus. Mr Williams will meet staff from the charity and take a tour of the centre, which provides support and services for people living with HIV in the local area.
When: Friday 30th November; 5.30pm
Where: Terrence Higgins Trust, Aled Richards Centre, 8-10 West Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0BH
Who: Stephen Williams, MP for Bristol West
The visit falls on the last day of England’s first ever National HIV Testing Week, which runs from 23rd to 30th November, in the lead up to World AIDS Day (1st December). The new initiative aims to encourage those at high risk of HIV, particularly gay and bisexual men and Africans, to test for the virus.
More than 3,000 people were accessing care for HIV in the South West of England in 2011. However, more than a quarter people with HIV in the UK are undiagnosed and therefore at risk of serious health problems.
MP Stephen Williams said: “I am really excited to be visiting Terrence Higgins Trust during England’s the first ever National HIV Testing Week. The initiative is a great way of putting HIV testing centre stage in the run up to World AIDS Day. A quarter of people with HIV in Bristol are untested and unaware they are living with the condition – encouraging those people to take an HIV test really is the key to stopping the HIV epidemic in its tracks.”
Louise Sweeney from Terrence Higgins Trust’s Bristol centre said: “We are delighted to have our MP along to see first hand what Terrence Higgins Trust does in the region. This World AIDS Day has been an extra special one for us, with the launch of the charity’s first ever National HIV Testing Week. Mr Williams’ visit is a great way of shining a light on the new initiative and the importance of HIV testing.”
To mark National HIV Testing Week, Terrence Higgins Trust’s Bristol centre has been holding special walk-in clinics for anyone who would like to take a test without any need to make a prior appointment.
For more information about services that Terrence Higgins Trust offers in Bristol, please call (0117) 955 1000 or email info.bristol@tht.org.uk.