UK Parliament begins world record HIV testing challenge
The record for the highest number of parliamentarians to take an HIV test in one session will be set today at Westminster.
A day of action and campaigning is taking place in order to raise awareness of this year’s World AIDS Day on 1 December.
Halve It, a coalition of national experts determined to tackle the continued public health challenges posed by HIV, has organised the event.
Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said he will attend, along with MPs and peers from across the political divide.
The Halve IT campaign aims to cut the number of people diagnosed late with HIV by 50%.
It also wants to halve the proportion of people living with undiagnosed HIV by 2015.
A number of MPs from all parties have agreed to take HIV tests in a bid to increase testing among most at risk populations – and to set a World Record.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS will also meet later today.
3,250 gay and bisexual men were diagnosed with HIV in 2012, the highest annual figure since the start of the epidemic.
Between 2011 and 2012 a small decline in the proportion of people living with HIV unaware was seen. The number of men who have sex with men (MSM) who remain undiagnosed fell to 18%.
