PRINCE HARRY TO ATTEND OPENING OF
TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST HIV TESTING POP-UP
Hackney, London
Wednesday 15th November, 2017
Prince Harry will attend the opening of the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) HIV testing pop-up shop in Hackney on Wednesday 15th November. During the visit, His Royal Highness will launch this year’s National HIV Testing Week, which is being coordinated by THT on behalf of HIV Prevention England.
National HIV Testing Week, which will run from 18th – 25th November, aims to increase awareness and acceptance of HIV testing within the most affected groups, by dispelling the stigma that surrounds the disease. The week, which promotes the benefits of regular testing and treatment for both the individual and the community, also raises the importance of increasing opportunities to test – be it in clinical settings, in primary care, through community-based rapid testing or via postal testing – in order to improve early diagnosis and treatment of HIV, thus reducing onward transmission.
THT, the largest voluntary sector provider of HIV and sexual health services in the UK, works to empower and support people living with HIV to lead healthy lives, and to eradicate stigma and discrimination in the most at risk communities. The charity’s new pop-up shop will provide an accessible space where people can come to access free information and advice around HIV/AIDS, and pick up a free HIV self-testing kit to take home.
During the visit, Prince Harry will watch a live demonstration of the THT self-test kit, and will speak to some of the shop’s volunteers, one of whom has recently been diagnosed with HIV after using a self-test kit and is now receiving treatment. His Royal Highness will then help the volunteers hand out self-test kits from behind the counter, before seeing how at risk groups are engaging with the National HIV Testing Week campaign in the pop-up’s ‘social media zone’.
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