Press Release – European HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week 2017 – November 16 2017
Organisations in Limerick city are uniting with the rest of Europe to take part in European HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week, to increase awareness of the benefits of HIV and Hepatitis C testing and encourage more people to become aware of their HIV and Hepatitis C status
Between 17th and 24th November, GOSHH (Gender, Orientation, Sexual Health and HIV) is coordinating a united response with organisations in Limerick, Tipperary and Clare to promote HIV and Hepatitis C testing and encourage people to become aware of their HIV and Hepatitis C status.
Testing week is now in its fifth year and the theme for testing week 2017 is Test. Treat. Prevent. The aim this year is to increase positive talk about the benefits of testing for HIV and Hepatitis. It’s important that people at risk of HIV and/or Hepatitis know their status as soon as possible. Today, treatment advances mean that people living with HIV can live healthily for a long time if they are diagnosed early, and people living with Hepatitis C can be completely cured.
It is estimated that approximately 30% of the 8,000 people living with HIV in Ireland are unaware that they are HIV positive, and approximately 40% of the 20–30,000 people estimated to be living with Hepatitis C are unaware of their status. That means that there are an estimated 28-38,000 people living in Ireland without access to proper medications that can make a definite difference in their lives.
European HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week is coordinated by HIV in Europe* but relies on participating organisations across Europe, including GOSHH, to organise local activities ensuring they are targeted at those who are at a higher risk of HIV and Hepatitis.
This year GOSHH has increased the number of agencies participating in testing week, which means we are able to provide educational workshops in targeted agencies and community based Rapid HIV and Rapid Hep C testing throughout the week. We have support on hand for all reactive cases and have close links with doctors, clinics, and consultants to ensure everyone has immediate access to all the follow on tests and medication they may need.
Ann Mason, Manager of GOSHH explained how important it is for people to know their HIV status: “These days HIV is a treatable infection and the sooner someone living with HIV accesses treatment, the sooner the medication will reduce their viral load to undetectable. It is also important to encourage people to openly discuss their HIV status with their sexual partner(s).”
“A key focus for European HIV and Hepatitis Testing Week is to encourage more healthcare professionals, outside a sexual health setting, to offer tests. Research has shown that 95% of people will accept a test when offered one. One of our goals is will be that everybody living in the Mid-West will get to know their HIV status and be aware of sexual health services within their locality.”
Susan, who has received the new treatment for Hep C and is now cured, says “In 2012 I was hospitalised with bleeding oesophageal varices & liver cirrhosis. After a few months I was doing better but was then diagnosed with Hep C. I knew nothing about Hepatitis so I thought this was a death sentence; four years later and I’m still here. In March 2015 I finished a three month course of the new Hepatitis C treatment (Sovaldi) and I have been clear of the virus ever since. Hopefully everyone living with Hepatitis will also get this cure”.
Ann Mason added: “We would encourage as many people as possible to come along to one of the various locations and give just 1 minute to update their HIV status or learn about HIV and Hepatitis C testing.”
GOSHH is willing to bring Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing to all venues so if you own a tattoo parlour, a factory, an office, or work in a voluntary or statutory agency and would like to know more about testing in your venue please contact us. To find out more about the European HIV-Hepatitis testing week visit www.testingweek.eu or to find out more information about tests being provided by GOSHH follow us on Facebook & Twitter, ring 061 314354, email support@goshh.ie or visit www.goshh.ie/test
– Ends –
For more information please contact:
Billie
Community Support Project Worker
GOSHH (Gender, Orientation, Sexual Health HIV)
Redwood Place
18 Davis Street,
Limerick
support@goshh.ie
061314354
GOSHH Schedule for ETW 2017
Friday 17th November
11.00 – 13.00 European HIV and Hepatitis Testing Week 2017 Launch – free Rapid
14.30 – 16.30 HIV and Hep C Testing – GOSHH, 18 Davis Street, Limerick
18.00 – 19.30 Free Rapid HIV Testing – Strokers Equality Bar, Mulgrave Street, Limerick
Monday November 20th
10.00 – 12.30 Free Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing – GOSHH, 18 Davis Street,
14.30 – 16.30 Limerick
09.30 – 13.00 GOSHH Presentation at “What Sex Workers Want” Good Practice Guidelines for Sexual Health Service Providers Camden Court Hotel, 2 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2
Tuesday November 21st
10.00 – 12.30 Free Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing – GOSHH, 18 Davis Street,
14.30 – 16.30 Limerick
Wednesday November 22nd
10.00 – 12.30 Free Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing – GOSHH, 18 Davis Street,
14.30 – 16.30 Limerick
14.00 – 16.00 Free Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing – Ana Liffey Drugs Project, Mulgrave Street, Limerick
Thursday November 23rd
10.00 – 12.30 Free Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing – GOSHH, 18 Davis Street,
14.30 – 16.30 Limerick
11.00 – 13.00 Free Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing – McGarry House, St. Alphonsus Street, Limerick
14.30 – 16.30 Free Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing – St Vincent De Paul Drop In, Barrington Street, Limerick
Sunday November 26th
17.00 – 21.00 Free Rapid HIV Testing – I-Kandi Sauna, Eastway Business Park, Limerick
Notes to editor
Who needs to get tested?
Key populations for HIV testing
Key populations at higher risk in Europe vary from country to country, but in general they include:
- Men who have sex with men
- Intravenous drug users
- Sex workers
- Migrants (including persons originating from a high prevalence country) and mobile populations
- Prisoners
- Partners of any at risk people
Key populations for Hepatitis testing
The key populations at higher risk of Hepatitis are the same as those for HIV, above. In addition, those at increased risk of living with undiagnosed Hepatitis C include:
- People on long-term haemodialysis
- People who have received blood, blood products, or organs before screening for Hepatitis C was implemented, or where screening is not yet widespread
- Healthcare workers.
- People who have had medical care abroad in at risk countries
- Other types of drug users including people who have snorted drugs
- People affected by homelessness
The situation in Europe
How many people are living with HIV across Europe?1, 2, 3
- 5 million people are living with HIV in the WHO European Region
- Almost 1 million are in Western and Central Europe
- 4 million are in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- Most new HIV infections are in Eastern Europe – with 90,198 people diagnosed in 2010
- This is nearly four-times as many as Western Europe (25,695) and more than thirty-times as many as Central Europe (2,478)
- At least one in three people living with HIV are unaware of their HIV status.
How many people are living with Hepatitis across Europe?4, 5
- An estimated 15 million with Hepatitis C in the WHO European Region* amounting about 2% of the population (these numbers may not necessarily reflect the full extent of transmission).
- Hepatitis C causes over 80,000 deaths per year in the WHO European Region and is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
About GOSHH – Gender Orientation Sexual Heath HIV
GOSHH is a charity which provides a safe, confidential, welcoming environment for everyone we work with. Our office is based in Limerick City and we work throughout the Counties of Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary. We focus on the promotion of equality and wellbeing of all with a positive and respectful approach to sexual orientation and gender diversity. Formed in 1989, Limerick AIDS Alliance operated until 1994 when the name changed to Red Ribbon Project reflecting the breadth of sexual health services provided throughout the Mid-West of Ireland. Gay Switchboard Limerick was founded in 1986 and became Rainbow Support Services in 2001 reflecting the wide variety of identities supported throughout the Mid-West of Ireland. Both projects joined together in 2013 and became GOSHH in 2014.
*About HIV in Europe
HIV in Europe is a pan-European initiative initiated in Brussels in 2007. The initiative provides a European platform for knowledge exchange and activities to improve early diagnosis and earlier care of HIV across Europe. The initiative is directed by an independent group of experts with representation from civil societies, policy makers, health professionals and European public health institutions.
HIV in Europe is not an organisation, but an initiative formed to inform processes, share knowledge and improve the evidence base around important issues of earlier testing and care. It is unique in its collaboration between stakeholders at a clinical, advocacy and public health level.
Financial support of the HIV in Europe initiative provided by: Gilead Sciences, Merck, Tibotec, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, ViiV Healthcare, and the Swedish Research Council.
*Countries in the WHO European Region
Western: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Central: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey.
Eastern: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
References
- 2016 Factsheet
- ECDC/WHO, HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Europe, 2015
- Hamers FF & Phillips AN. Diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV-infected populations in Europe. HIV Medicine, 2008.
- Health topics, communicable diseases, hepatitis, data and statistics, 2015.
- Viral hepatitis, 2015.