With 100,000 people predicted to be living with HIV by the end of this year, the Terrence Higgins Trust’s new campaign raises greater awareness of HIV and generates funds for prevention services and support for people living with the virus.

Graham Norton said: “This World AIDS Day I’m putting on my most glamorous red underwear to support a wonderful charity, Terrence Higgins Trust. They’ve got a great new campaign running, Stand Up, Stand Out, to raise greater awareness of HIV and generate vital funds to support people living with the virus in the UK. All you have to do to get involved is wear your red undies to work, donate £2 online and ask any adventurous friends, family and colleagues to do the same.

With our support Terrence Higgins trust can continue to offer amazing services for people living with HIV as well as vital information and advice to help people look after their sexual health.”

Stephen Fry said: “Almost 20 people are still being diagnosed with HIV every day in the UK and it is an incurable and life threatening condition. Please join me in getting involved with Terrence Higgins Trust’s Stand Up, Stand Out campaign to support people living with HIV this World AIDS Day.

“Terrence Higgins Trust is a charity that provides brilliant services for people living with HIV as well as crucial information and advice to help people protect their sexual health and that of their partners. With your help this World AIDS Day they can be there for even more people who need them. Have a look at their website to see what fun things you can do to support. Even a small donation makes a really big difference.”

Getting tested regularly is the best way to prevent the spread of HIV. Better2Know has 60 clinics nationwide where you can get tested today. Our booking line is open 24/7: phone 0844 561 0750.

New figures from the Health Protection Agency show that one in five people offered an HIV test refuse to have the test.

It is estimated that 96,500 people are HIV+ in the UK in 2010, with a quarter of them unaware of their status and most likely to infect their partners.

Only 4% of the population were tested in 2010, many of these pregnant women who are offered the test as a routine part of their pregnancy care.

The most accurate HIV tests are a simple blood test with results available from Better2Know within 2-3 working days. The test is nothing to worry about, but carrying the virus without knowing it is a far more serious problem.

For more details please click here to see the full article.

Press Release
IT IS BETTER2KNOW YOUR HIV STATUS: TEST TODAY AND RAISE FUNDS TO HELP THE TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST

London, United Kingdom, 23 November 2011

26% of people in the UK who are HIV positive, do not know that they are carrying the virus. If you are worried that you could be one of them, then you could be risking your own and your partner’s health. Better2Know is the UKs leading sexually transmitted infection (STI)/ HIV testing provider and can get you tested anonymously and with same day or next day results. For every test booked between now and World AIDS Day on Thursday 1 December 2011, Better2Know will donate £5.00 to the Terrence Higgins Trust to help support people living with HIV.

According to the Better2Know 2011 Survey, over two-thirds (69.4%) of respondents said that they had not always practiced safe sex. With nearly half (47.6%) saying that they had been unfaithful, most more than once, to their partner. It is more important than ever to ensure that you have regular testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections so that you can protect your long term health and fertility, and avoid spreading infections to your partners.

Better2Know is supporting the Terrence Higgins Trust in its mission to prevent the spread of HIV and STIs in the UK, by supporting people to look after their sexual health and regularly access their local sexual health services. Better2Know is making a donation to Terrence Higgins Trust for every HIV test booked individually, or as part of a full STI screen, to raise funds to support people diagnosed with HIV to maximise their health and wellbeing and ensuring they have the best possible HIV treatment and care services.

“We are delighted to support Terrence Higgins Trust” said Better2Know CEO Mike Asher “they provide invaluable support for those who are worried that they may have an STI, including HIV, both before and after testing. We provide confidential and anonymous appointments for our patients at any one of our many clinics around the UK. Our patients can see a doctor, and get the tests they need to safeguard their health. Our tests are of the highest quality available and we ensure that results are given to our patients quickly and discreetly.”

Clinical Director of the Terrence Higgins Trust Jason Warriner said: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Better2Know this World AIDS Day. It’s a great opportunity to both encourage people to come forward for an HIV test and raise vital funds to support people who have been diagnosed. There are still very high numbers of people living with HIV without knowing they have it, which is life threatening for themselves and their partners, so it’s crucial people who have the infection find out and get onto treatment as soon as possible. “

-ENDS-

REFERENCES
*http://www.tht.org.uk/informationresources/factsandstatistics/uk/

The Better2Know 2011 survey was carried out between 4 and 23 August 2011, 184 UK residents were asked to respond to the survey which was completely anonymous.

ABOUT BETTER2KNOW
Better2Know is the United Kingdom’s largest private provider of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) testing services. It has over 50 partner clinics throughout the UK, including 11 in London. Better2Know empowers its customers by giving them the choice of which tests to have and where and when to attend an appointment convenient for them. All tests are completely anonymous, names do not have to be given when booking and results are confidential between the clinic and customer. All tests are performed in accredited laboratories quickly and accurately, whilst maintaining absolute patient confidentiality.

To book your appointment phone 0844 561 0750 or visit our website www.better2know.co.uk

ABOUT TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST
Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We’re here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups. We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination, and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all.

Visit www.myhiv.org.uk, our new site for everyone living with HIV in the UK, for accredited information, self management tools, interactive web services and community forums. Terrence Higgins Trust relies on donations to deliver a wide range of services. To make a donation, or to find out about everything that we do visit www.tht.org.uk

Most people know that left untreated, STDs can continue to cause itching, discharge, unpleasant odours and can lead to both male and female infertility. Some STDs can also cause Cancer.

New Reasearch published today shows that it is not just the HPV (associated with Genital Warts) that can cause cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, penis, head and neck (see our blog on the 18 November 2011), but Hepatitis B and C can also cause Liver cancer. Having Hepatitis B can make you one hundred times more likely to deveop Liver Cancer as someone who does not.

The viruses are spread through shared bodily fluids so you do not even have to have penatrative sex to transmit the infection. Sharing needles can also transmit the virus.

Help is at hand, if you know you have Hepatitis B and/ or C there are drugs available to help keep them under control and prevent liver cancer. The only way to be sure is to be tested. Better2Know can provide you with a confidential STD test starting from just ten days after your exposure (our Early Detection Screen for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. You do not have to give your real name, and your results will not go on your medical record.

A new United Nations report has found that AIDS/ HIV related deaths are falling across the globe with advances in treatment of the condition. The number of people living with HIV is increasing and is now affecting 34 million people around the world, half of whom are women.

In Western Europe and North America where there is very high availability of antiretroviral drugs, the rates of new infections has not fallen as hoped, possibly because people are no longer worried about the virus as it no longer considered fatal.

Practising safe sex and regular testing are needed to help prevent spreading the disease.

Please click here to see the full UN report.

Many people know that the genital human papillomavirus (HPV) can be sexually transmitted and can cause genital warts and cervical cancer. New studies are showing that HPV also has been associated with other types of cancers, including vaginal, vulva, penile, anal, and some head and neck cancers which affect both men and women.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has found that every year more than 17,300 HPV-associated cancers occur in women and up to 7,600 HPV-associated cancers occur in men. The most common HPV-related cancer in women is cervical cancer, while the most common HPV-related cancer in men is head and neck.

There are over 100 different types of HPV, and Better2Know can test for all of them. Book your confidential appointment today at anyone of our 60 nationwide clinics. You do not have to give your real name and the test and the result will not appear on your medical record.

For full details of the new study please click here.

Many countries require an HIV Certificate as part of their entry requirements for visas. This is normally for a work visa and is will be needed when you are applying for your visa. Better2Know can provide the certificate you need after your HIV Test.

If you have been advised that you need an HIV Certificate for your visa, then we can provide the HIV Certificate you need at all of our clinics.

If you choose to have an instant HIV test, then the certificate will be ready on the same day. We have centres in London where instant tests are available which will be convenient if you are going to the embassy yourself. Otherwise your HIV Certificate will be available when your results are known: within two to three working days of your test.

Countries where an HIV Certificate can be required as part of the visa application include: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and most other former Soviet states, Saudi Arabia, China, Brunei and Singapore. The list of countries is increasing all the time, so please check your entry requirements.

In addition, many people need an HIV certificate for professional reasons: gas, oil and off shore workers, security personnel and some sports including boxing. We are able to provide HIV tests and certificates for all these occupations. If you have any questions please contact our booking team who will be happy to help.

If you need an HIV Certificate, please let our booking team know when you book, so that your HIV Certificate will be ready as soon as possible. The cost for an HIV test and certificate is £145. Please contact us today on 0844 561 0750 lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can arrange corporate billing please contact us at corporate@better2know.co.uk

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) strikes anyone - young and old, the rich or poor, the famous and unknowns. The nameless victims who get infected go unnoticed, but celebrities who do, always get the world’s attention. This is a list of the top 10 celebrities who are known to have or to have had the virus known as HIV, including those who have died (whether from AIDS or another cause).

1) Rock Hudson - Iconic Hollywood leading man, the first major American celebrity whose AIDS diagnosis was made public. Unquestionably, he was one of the most popular and well-known movie stars of his time. The public got a double shock when it was revealed he had AIDS and was gay. In 1985, Hudson died at the age of 59.

2) Freddie Mercury - Queen’s lead singer noted for his vocal abilities and his charisma. His death led to The Mercury Phoenix Trust anti-AIDS charity and the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness. Died in 1991 at the age of 45 and was inducted into Rock and Roll’s Hall of Fame in 2001.

3) Liberace - Flamboyant Las Vegas singer and piano player known for candelabras, lavish costumes, exotic cars and kitchy homes. In the ’70s and 80s, Liberace was a major box office attraction in Las Vegas. In 1987, he died due to complications from AIDS.

4) Arthur Ashe - one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Was the first African-American to win a Grand Slam and he went on to collect three. Ashe transcended tennis to become a social activist who led public protests against apartheid in South Africa; became infected with HIV via transfusion during heart surgery. This Tennis Hall of Famer died in 1993 at the age of 49.

5) Isaac Asimov - famous science fiction writer and biochemist. Two of his works were turned into highly successful films - I, Robot and Bicentennial Man. Asimov, who was also popular for his science books, became infected by transfused blood during heart surgery.

6) Earvin “Magic” Johnson - One of the greatest NBA players of all time, Johnson is widely considered as the best point guard ever to play the game. Since publicly announcing he had been infected with the virus HIV, Johnson continues to be an advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and safe sex.

7) Greg Louganis - Olympic gold medalist in diving. Was the most outstanding amateur athlete in 1984 and went on to win back-to-back Olympic golds in both the 3m and 10m diving events. Following the announcement of his HIV status in 1995, Louganis was dropped by majority of his corporate sponsors. Since retiring from diving, Louganis has ventured into acting mostly in off-Broadway plays.

Tommy Morrison - world champion boxer better known for his role as Tommy Gunn in Rocky V. In 1996 it was revealed he was HIV-positive which automatically retired him from boxing as a competitor. Currently, he is pursuing a career in Mixed Martial Arts and is trying to mount a comeback in boxing.

9) Ryan White - expelled from high school because of his infection which he got from contaminated blood during treatment. White, who was a hemophiliac, became a poster child for HIV/AIDS at a time when the public knew very little about the disease. White made many celebrity friends including Michael Jackson whose song “Gone Too Soon” was a tribute to the teenage AIDS victim. White died in 1990 at a young age of 18.

10) Esteban De Jesus - a world lightweight champion boxer from Puerto Rico. Famous for his trilogy with Roberto Duran, “Vita” had a life full of controversy, problems and scandals. Sentenced to life in jail for murder, he became a preacher and started to turn his life around. De Jesus acquired HIV and succumbed to full-blown AIDS in 1989.

When you think about the celebrities on this list, appreciate the importance of practicing Safe Sex. It is an effective way to prevent yourself or your partner from getting the HIV virus or other STDs. Click here to know more about HIV/AIDS ?

To book your HIV Test phone 0844 561 0750 now lines open 24 hours a day 7 days a week or visit the Better2Know website to find your nearest clinic.

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust is today launching its new World AIDS Day campaign, Stand Up, Stand Out, and asking people nationwide to ‘show us their undies’ to support people living with HIV.

Almost 20 people are still being diagnosed with HIV every day in the UK and it is an incurable and life threatening condition. With close to 100,000 people now living with the infection and numbers increasing every year, Terrence Higgins Trust is asking people to Stand Up, Stand Out to raise greater awareness of HIV and vital funds for HIV prevention services and support for people living with the virus.

It’s easy to get involved with the campaign and people can take part in a variety of different ways:

Stand Out in red underwear and donate £2 to Terrence Higgins Trust. Be as loud and proud as you like, showing just a hint of red over your jeans or a full ‘underwear as outerwear’ look. Get work colleagues, friends and family in on the act to raise vital funds for people living with HIV.

Get well ‘red’ about HIV: Separate the myths from the facts and find out more information about HIV to protect yourself and your partner- Terrence Higgins Trust’s Stand Up, Stand Out HIV Fastfacts are available on: www.tht.org.uk/fastfacts

Wear your red ribbon with pride: Wear yours in the lead up to December to remember those who have died with AIDS. You can also sell them to friends, family and colleagues to raise funds to support Terrence Higgins Trust and people living with HIV. Phone: 020 7812 1671 to order your free box of red ribbons.

Write to your local MP: Stand Up and be counted by joining Terrence Higgins Trust’s online campaigning community to encourage your MP to support HIV prevention and keep HIV on the local and national agenda. Click here to write to your local MP: www.tht.org.uk/mp

THT’s Executive Director of Fundraising, Genevieve Edwards, said: “For nearly 30 years Terrence Higgins Trust has been at the very heart of the HIV epidemic, supporting people living with, or at risk of, the virus. With your support this December we can reach out to even more people who need us.

“Please Stand Up, Stand Out to increase awareness about HIV, including how to protect yourself and your partner from the infection, and raise vital funds for Terrence Higgins Trust’s prevention services and support for people living with the virus. HIV is still on the increase and we need to act now to prevent further infections.”

A press release from the Terrence Higgins Trust today:

“Some of the nation’s best loved agony aunts – Gill Cox, Tracey Cox, Jenni Trent-Hughes, Emma Marlin, Susan Quilliam, Denise Robertson, Deidre Sanders, Dr Pam Spurr and Zelda West-Meads – have come together to support sexual health charities Brook, FPA (Family Planning Association), Terrence Higgins Trust, and MedFASH in their call to protect vital sexual health services.

The agony aunts and charities are calling for the Government and decision-makers to maintain their commitment to the nation’s sexual health to prevent it going into a sharp decline.

Despite considerable progress, the UK still has a worrying sexual health record with some of the worst sexually transmitted infection rates in Western Europe. There’s been a steady increase between 2008 and 2010 in chlamydia, gonorrhoea and herpes diagnoses and HIV is still one of the fastest growing serious health conditions in the UK.

Charities Brook, FPA, Terrence Higgins Trust, and MedFASH support the sexual health needs of thousands of people in the UK, every day, with wide-ranging, personalised services focused on contraception, pregnancy choices and sexually transmitted infection prevention and testing as well as information, care and support.

All of these charities have recently lost services integral to local communities’ needs, including Brook’s young people’s sexual health services in Stockton, Terrence Higgins Trust’s HIV prevention services in Wales and the FPA Speakeasy parenting, sex and relationships education programme in England. Other charitable and NHS services are facing an uncertain future.

In light of these cuts, the coalition of agony aunts and charities are calling for sexual health services to be improved and expanded rather than cut or reduced. A statement from the group says: “During economic uncertainty, sexual health services are often seen as easy targets - they’re more likely to go first or lose more of their funding compared to others. Good sexual health is essential to physical and mental health as well as positive relationships, self-esteem and self-identity and personal responsibility. We’re here to remind decision makers that sexual health services must be protected.”

To see the full article, please click here.