Leeds set to mark 40th anniversary of HIV in the UK

This year’s World AIDS Day falls on the 40^th anniversary of the first reported cases of HIV-related illnesses and deaths within the UK.

To mark this significant milestone, multiple events across Leeds will take place to remember more than 36 million people who have died from HIV-related illnesses worldwide since the start of the global epidemic.

Significant progress has been made over the last 40 years in terms of raising awareness of HIV, the development of prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment.

Across the UK, 98% of people living with HIV are on effective treatment and have an undetectable viral load meaning that they cannot pass on the virus to others giving rise to the phrase U=U: Undetectable=Untransmittable.

Since October 2020 the preventative drug for HIV, PrEP has been available on NHS prescription via Sexual Health Clinics to eligible people.

However, more needs to be done to raise awareness of HIV and reduce the stigma that still exists around the virus and being tested. In Leeds, over 57% of people testing positive for HIV receive a late diagnosis, meaning their long-term health is more likely to be negatively impacted.

Councillor Salma Arif, Executive Member for public health and active lifestyles said:

“It is important to remember the people that we have to lost to HIV over the last 40 years as well as recognising the advances that have been made within research, prevention and treatment. However, there is still so much more we need to do collectively, in order to tackle inequalities to healthcare access, reduce stigma and raise awareness around HIV.

We remain committed to ensuring Leeds is a city where there is equitable access to HIV prevention, diagnosis and support; making sure that under-represented groups such as women, people from BAME communities and trans folk are not left behind”.

With a focus on reducing stigma, this year’s national World AIDS Day campaign features celebrities and influencers promoting the message “#RockTheRibbon with me”, which encourages people to wear the red ribbon, a global symbol for solidarity, and to become an HIV ally with those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Jeni Hirst, Director of service development and delivery at BHA Leeds Skyline said:

“Stigma and discrimination still play a huge part in preventing people from testing for HIV, accessing effective treatment and living well with HIV. We are proud to be working in communities across Leeds and supporting local people in raising awareness, increasing access to testing and ending stigma and discrimination. We all have a role to play in ending all new cases of HIV and ending HIV stigma, we look forward to you getting involved.”

Dr Sarah Schoeman, Sexual health and HIV consultant, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust said:

“On this 40th anniversary of the first reported cases of HIV we have so much to celebrate: 94% of people living with HIV in the UK today are aware of their positive status and of these, the majority are on effective treatment and are ‘undetectable’ meaning they can expect to live a long and healthy life and they can’t pass the virus on. However, the high proportion of late diagnosis in Leeds and the Yorkshire & Humber region compared to the average in England is often due to missed opportunities for earlier testing, alongside HIV related stigma which remain our two current biggest challenges. Let’s grow up with HIV and make Leeds an HIV stigma-free community”.

Dr Anna Hartley, Genitourinary medicine consultant, Leeds Sexual Health Service and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust said:

“HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are tablets you can take to prevent yourself getting HIV.  This treatment is highly effective and is now available on the NHS.  It is really important that people who are at risk of getting HIV get on PrEP. PrEP can be accessed at Sexual Health Services including at Leeds Sexual Health.  We would strongly encourage anyone who wants to know more about it or thinks they need it, to get in contact with us”.

Tom Doyle, Chief Executive Yorkshire MESMAC said:

“It’s never been easier or quicker to get a HIV test in the community, using a rapid point of care test we take a small drop of blood from a finger prick and it takes 10 minutes for you to get your results. If you have HIV, we can get you on effective treatments that means that you can live a healthy normal life and be unable to pass on HIV to your sexual partners.  If your test comes back negative, we can discuss the HIV Prevention treatment, PrEP: drugs that you can take prior to sex that prevents HIV transmission.”

Due to the significance of this year, there are several events happening across the city:

• One minutes silence - Leeds Town Hall - 1st of December at 11am

• WAD Remembrance and Celebration event – Leeds Civic Hall - 2nd December from 6pm for your free ticket please visit the BHA Leeds Skyline Eventbrite page here

• More WAD events that are happening around Leeds can be found on BHA Leeds Skyline Facebook page here

 Notes to Editors

• 3 million people have acquired HIV since the start of the epidemic and 36.3 million people are estimated to have died from HIV related illness.
• Around 105,200 people in the UK are currently living with HIV- around 1350 of whom live in Leeds
• 96% of people living with HIV in Leeds have an undetectable viral load due to regular treatment, meaning there is zero risk of passing on HIV to their partners and can live a normal life expectancy.
• Despite great advances in prevention, testing and treatment contributing to a national reduction in the number of people diagnosed with HIV, there are still around 1 in 16 people who are unaware they have HIV and spend an average of three to five years not knowing, increasing the risk of passing HIV on to sexual partners.
• Late diagnosis rates are higher than the regional and national average in Leeds: 57% of people were diagnosed late in 2019. This correlates to poorer long-term health outcomes and leads to a tenfold increase of death within one year.
• Increasing knowledge and awareness amongst health professionals and the public and encouraging and normalising HIV testing, is essential for people to know how to protect themselves and others, and ultimately eliminate the ongoing stigma around HIV and AIDS

For more information regarding community based HIV testing in Leeds visit:

BHA Leeds Skyline: Click here to book a HIV test or visit the website to find out more about PrEP and BHA’s wider work thebha.org

For more information relating to HIV and support for people living with HIV in Leeds please contact Jeni Hirst, Director of BHA Leeds Skyline on 0113 2449767 or jeni@thebha.org.uk

Yorkshire MESMAC Click here to book a HIV test or visit the website for information about PrEP and Yorkshire MESMACs wider work mesmac.co.uk

For more information relating to HIV please contact Tom Doyle, Chief Executive of Yorkshire MESMAC on 0113 244 4209 / 07771 931 421 or t.doyle@mesmac.co.uk

Leeds Sexual Health Click here for more information about accessing the drug PrEP or visit leedssexualhealth.com for more information about the wider service

Rock the Ribbon campaign for more information visit www.worldaidsday.org