AN ORGANISATION supporting those with HIV in Thames Valley is urging awareness and testing among the public ahead of World AIDS Day.
Thames Valley Positive Support has called for testing, awareness, and continued investment and compassion among HIV support services.
Despite continued advances in HIV medicine, the charity explains that the virus hasn’t gone away, and still needs local, accessible services to help those with the condition.
World AIDS Day falls on December 1, and marks a day of international awareness of HIV and AIDS, support for those who live with the virus, and commemorates those who have lost their lives to the virus.
Reading still sees higher HIV rates than larger cities like Liverpool, Newcastle, and Leeds, at a rate of just over 3 per 1,000.
Half of all HIV diagnoses in nearby Windsor & Maidenhead, over 53% in Bracknell Forest, and 42.9% in West Berkshire, are late diagnoses.
Late diagnosis means people missed the chance for early treatment, not only impacting people’s health but also doubling treatment costs in the first year and keeps healthcare costs 50% higher in the long term (according to NICE in 2016).
Sarah Macadam, CEO of TVPS, said: “Behind every statistic is a person who deserves to live well with HIV–we’ve made huge progress, but stigma, late diagnosis and unequal access to services still affect far too many people across Berkshire.
“We want everyone to know that testing is easy, support is available, and nobody has to face HIV alone.”
Thames Valley Positive Service supports over 800 people living with or affected by HIV, through more than 30 local outreach and education sessions each year.
TVPS helps communities understand HIV, encouraging earlier testing and reducing stigma, and this year marked its 40th anniversary.
More information about TVPS, including how to get tested, is available via: tvps.org.uk
