From Monday 1st February to Sunday 7th February is National HIV Testing Week, a great opportunity for us to raise awareness and help to stop the transmission of HIV. Due to Covid-19 we are unable to complete our normal way of working which would be providing face to face testing clinics within the communities of Essex, Southend and Thurrock. Instead this year we are hoping to supply some local sites & organisations such as yourselves with ‘foam hands’ promoting our message ‘Give HIV the finger’, as testing for HIV is a simple do it yourself finger prick test. We are looking for organisations or community leaders to receive our ‘foam hands’ with National HIV Testing week on them and take a picture and share it on your social media alongside a message to support us in spreading the message far and wide. As you know THT works locally to increase people’s awareness of HIV and break myths and stigmas and National Testing week gives us the perfect opportunity to do this.
Please do let us know if your organisation is interested in participating in this campaign, and if so what address we should send the foam hand too. You can let us know by contacting Robert.Lynn-Rollings@tht.org.uk. We will also email you some facts about HIV, and the benefits of testing so that you are able to share this with your post. During this week we shall also be holding short sessions of our HIV Today webinar training via the zoom platform.
If you could be kind enough to post the following message on your social media platforms ‘(Your organisation name here) are supporting National HIV Testing Week. Testing has never been easier and you can now order a free finger-prick test kit to complete at home that arrives in a discrete package. Testing is the only way to know your status, and HIV is now a manageable condition. Did you know that someone living with HIV and taking their medication can’t pass the virus on with or without a condom? #knowyourstatus #nationalhivtestingweek #cantpassit on #givehivthefinger #terrencehigginstrust along with a picture of your ‘foam hands’ you don’t have to show your face if you wish not too!