campaigns

Surveillance data collected in the UK has shown that African communities are testing later than other groups in the UK usually with a very low CD4 count (white blood cells). People are being diagnosed at A & E and other health facilities when they present with other illnesses. This reduces the effectiveness of current HIV medication resulting in people often needing hospitalisation and adding to the high cost of treating such individuals and poor prognosis.

 

The testing campaign was developed to encourage African people to think about the benefits of testing as part of good sexual health. This, it was hoped, would enable individuals to be able to get the necessary treatment in good time so that their long-term prognosis is greatly improved and so that they could look after theirs and their partners’ health. The campaign targets different sub groups addressing their particular issues and the materials are available in five languages.