World AIDS Day takes place on 1 December each year. It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.
Over 103,800 people are living with HIV in the UK. Globally, there are an estimated 38 million people who have the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. Today, scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV and we understand so much more about the condition. Despite this, each year in the UK over 4,450 people are diagnosed with HIV, people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others, and stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with the condition.
Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme, which this year will be Global solidarity, shared responsibility. This year’s theme joins a growing list of challenges that World AIDS Day has alerted people to globally.
Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever international day for global health. Every year, United Nations agencies, governments and civil society join together to campaign around specific themes related to HIV.
South Tyneside Sexual Health campaign each year, raising awareness across the local population about the importance of safe sex including correct condom use and access to STI testing.
The outbreak of COVID-19 and social distancing guidance have changed the way many health services operate in regards to patient consultations, limiting the number of patients in service and operating at reduced capacity. South Tyneside Sexual Health strive to ensure patients have equal availability & continuous access to STI testing & contraceptive methods through this difficult time.
The Sexual Health team recognise and are responsive to the changing need of the population and in light of COVID-19, have launched an online testing platform’s for local residents. The new online home testing kit, offers screening for infections such as HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea and is available to order 24 hours a day from the South Tyneside Sexual Health website.
This new online offer is a quick way to test, very discreet and is completely confidential, delivered direct to the specified address when completing the online demographic form. Home testing kits are delivered in plain packaged envelope’s by Royal Mail meaning NHS will not appear on the outside of the envelope.
Kits are sent by standard post meaning that no signature is required and will fit through a standard letter box.
The home test involves providing a blood sample (if a person chooses to be tested for HIV & Syphilis) or a urine or swab sample for Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea testing.
Home testing kits are delivered complete with instruction’s, a freepost return envelope and are posted back to us by standard Royal Mail.
This online test offer is available for both male and female’s over the age of 16+
Please visit our Sexual Health website to order https://www.southtynesidesexualhealth.nhs.uk