Terrence Higgins Trust Launches Campaign To Tackle Undiagnosed HIV In Gay Men

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 25 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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For World AIDS Day (December 1) Terrence Higgins Trust is launching a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of the levels of undiagnosed HIV in gay men. The campaign, 'THIVK you're still negative?' will include adverts in gay press, condom packs, posters and scratch cards.

The aim of the campaign is to get men to consider if they have HIV without realising. The Health Protection Agency estimate up to 10,000 gay men in Britain have HIV without knowing. Many gay men are still being diagnosed late, at the point where they should already be on treatment. Late diagnosis brings a much higher likelihood of serious illness and premature death, it can reduce treatment options and obviously has an effect on onward transmission of the virus.

Marc Thompson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust said "A lot of gay men who've had unprotected sex assume they're still HIV negative but thousands who make that assumption are wrong. Some are relying on an old test result or just presume that their partners would tell them if they had HIV. With around a quarter of gay men with HIV unaware they are infected it's a dangerous presumption. We hope this campaign will encourage men to think about their risk and if necessary, consider getting tested so they know for sure."

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) and partner organisations will be taking the campaign into gay bars and clubs over World AIDS Day. The materials include information on how long on average gay men remain undiagnosed before testing positive, the possibility of sexual partners having HIV without knowing and the risk of undiagnosed men telling sexual partners that they don't have HIV.

THIVK is a CHAPS campaign, funded by the Department of Health. CHAPS is a partnership of community-based organisations, co-ordinated by THT, which carry out HIV health promotion work with gay men in England and Wales.

Men who would like to talk to someone about their own risk and the chance they may have HIV can call THT Direct on 0845 12 21 200. Details of testing clinics can also be found on http://www.tht.org.uk 1. The aim of THIVK is to raise awareness of undiagnosed infection. THT is following up with a specific testing campaign in the new year so to avoid confusion please avoid referring to THIVK as a testing campaign.

2. The CHAPS programme is funded by the Department of Health and co-ordinated by THT in partnership with GMFA, Lesbian and Gay Foundation, Yorkshire MESMAC, Trade Men's Sexual Health Project, the Armistead Project, Sheffield Centre for HIV and Sexual Health, the Eddystone Trust, and Sigma Research

3. Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We're here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups. We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all. Terrence Higgins Trust relies on donations to deliver a wide range of services. To make a donation, visit http://www.tht.org.uk

Source
Sally Sharpe
Head of Media
Terrence Higgins Trust
http://www.tht.org.uk