Free HIV tests in Shropshire after cases climb by 10%
People are being urged to take advantage of free HIV tests in Shropshire this week – after cases rose by 10 per cent in a year.
The county is taking part in National HIV Testing Week after it was revealed there were 425 people newly diagnosed in the West Midlands in 2014.
Telford's Terrence Higgins Trust has organised drop-in sessions in Telford, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth where people can take a test and find out in 15 minutes whether they are HIV positive or not.
Tom Greenwood, of the trust, said the numbers diagnosed were a 10th higher than the year before. He said he was concerned that people were carrying HIV but not being tested because they show no symptoms.
He said: "One of the things that is certainly pertinent in national HIV testing week is the issue around late diagnosis of HIV.
"Nationally we are probably looking at today a figure of 18,000 people walking round who do not know they are HIV positive. Often, for a good period of time, people will not display symptoms.
"We wouldn't blame anybody, we are not in that culture. They may not know and it may mean that unwittingly they are transmitting HIV to partners. And that's why we are calling on people to go out there and have a test as part of national HIV testing week."
Mr Greenswood said HIV has moved on from when the illness was first identified as a risk. Adverts in the 1980s played on fear, but HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was.
He said: "Medication has moved HIV quite often into a long-term manageable condition.
"There are many, many people now who have HIV who are living very healthy lives, productive lives, they have jobs, families. They are carrying on absolutely as normal."
But this is the issue. If you leave HIV, and you have a late diagnosis, then sometimes your prognosis is a little bit different. It might not be so good."
Testing is taking place tonight from 4pm to 7pm at The Raft Centre in Queen Street, Wellington, Telford. Tomorrow, also from 4pm to 7pm, people will be able to go along to The Roy Fletcher Centre in Cross Hill, Shrewsbury.
On Thursday, it will move to the Centra Care Parish Rooms in Bridgnorth from 2pm to 5pm.
Over the weekend, testers will be at Telford Central Railway Station on Saturday and at the Peace Chapel in Randlay, Telford, from 11am to 1pm on Sunday. The testing is free and confidential and follow-on advice and support will be made available.
