Hastings MP to take HIV test during England’s first ever National HIV Testing Week
Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings & Rye, is to take a public HIV test on 23rd November in an effort to encourage more local people to test for the virus. Ms Rudd will attend Hastings’ Station Plaza sexual health clinic for a simple finger-prick blood test. Her result will be delivered within 20 minutes.
When: 23rd November 2012, 5pm – 5.30pm
Where: Sexual Health Clinic, 1st Floor, Station Plaza Health Centre, Station Approach, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1BA
Who: Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings & Rye
Ms Rudd is taking the test to raise awareness during England’s first ever National HIV Testing Week. The new week has been launched by Terrence Higgins Trust and runs from 23rd to 30th November. The initiative aims to encourage people at high risk of HIV, in particular gay men and Africans, to get tested in the run up to World AIDS Day (1st December).
More than 4,800 people were accessing care for HIV in the South East Coast region 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.
Station Plaza sexual health clinic offers a fully integrated sexually transmitted infection, contraceptive and HIV service. It is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 7.15pm, on a drop in basis. There are outreach clinics in some outlying towns. For more information about the Hastings Station Plaza services, please call (01424) 464750.
MP Amber Rudd said: “By taking this test, I want to show people that National HIV Testing Week is as good a time as ever to get tested. With more people than ever living with HIV in the UK, I am delighted to support this initiative to help drive down infections.”
Daniel Murray from THT in East Sussex said: “It’s fantastic that our Hastings and Rye MP is helping us to put National HIV Testing Week on the map. People with undiagnosed HIV are not only putting their own health at risk, they are also more likely to pass the virus on unwittingly. It’s vital we encourage more people, particularly those at increased risk of HIV, to get tested.”
As part of the charity’s events programme this World AIDS Day, Terrence Higgins Trust in East Sussex is also putting on a special testing event in partnership with Hastings genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic on 28th November at the LINKS Project, Concordia Hall, Church Road, St Leonards. The event will run from 12.00 – 2pm and the charity is inviting Africans living in the area to attend for free, confidential and rapid HIV tests without any need to make any prior appointment.
For more information about services that Terrence Higgins Trust offers in East Sussex, please contact Terrence Higgins Trust Eastbourne on (01323) 649927 or email info.eastbourne@tht.org.uk.