Graham took action against Aids as he joined Nancy Dell’Olio at the Terrence Higgins Trust’s World AIDS Day reception and took an HIV test for National HIV Testing Week.
Graham said: “Despite the fact that this is the 25th World AIDS Day, HIV transmission is actually on the increase in the UK. Last week, Public Health England (PHE) announced that there are now more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK, of whom one in five is undiagnosed and so are far more likely to pass the virus on: that’s an estimated 21,900 people living with HIV in 2012 who were unaware of their infection. In 2012, there were 1,915 people living with the virus in Cheshire and Merseyside.
“I am delighted to show my support for the effort to stop HIV. We know that there are more people than ever living with HIV locally, and far too many of these are still undiagnosed. National HIV Testing Week is the perfect time to remind people that HIV testing is fast and simple – and it’s one of the best weapons we have to stop the spread of HIV. We now know that the vast majority of HIV infections come from people who don’t yet know they have the virus. The more support and awareness we can build for initiatives like National HIV Testing Week, the stronger we are in the fight against HIV.”
“I also took an HIV test to understand the process with the ‘Halve It’ campaign which focuses on the expansion of HIV testing services, on the basis that early testing of HIV saves lives and also takes pressure of the health service.
“HIV should remain a public health priority in the UK, and as a Halve It supporter will advocate for the campaign’s continued work on improving HIV testing and diagnosis.”
National HIV Testing Week runs from Friday 22nd – Friday 29th November, and will coincide with the first ever European HIV Testing Week. The week is supported by major public health bodies, including Public Health England, the British HIV Association (BHIVA), and the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). Anyone can learn more about National HIV Testing Week, pledge their support for the campaign and find out when to test, by visiting www.startswithme.org.uk.