The devastating impact of AIDS has come into focus across the Hunter in the prelude to World AIDS Day.
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Observed annually on December 1, the event is being acknowledged across the Hunter to promote awareness of HIV testing.
This year’s theme Ending HIV – which focuses on the three key areas of testing, treatment and early detection – includes a display at Cessnock City Library.
“Preventing HIV is still as important as ever. Around 10,500 people in NSW are living with diagnosed HIV infection, but around 10 per cent of people with HIV in NSW may be unaware they are infected. We are committed to changing this statistic,” Hunter New England Health director of sexual health services Nathan Ryder said.
“To end HIV, more people need to get tested more often. The earlier people know their status, the better their outlook.”
The most effective way for people to protect themselves and their partners in reducing the spread of HIV is to consistently use condoms with sex partners and have regular sexually transmitted infection tests, including a HIV test.
“Overall, during 2013 and 2014, HIV testing in NSW has increased among high risk groups. There are also indications that we are detecting new HIV infections earlier. We need to encourage people to use condoms and get tested regularly to help us end HIV,” Dr Ryder said.
HIV can affect people of all ages, genders, races and cultures.
In addition to gay men, heterosexual people at risk of HIV should be tested, especially people from countries with high rates of HIV, or who have had unprotected sex with a person at high risk of HIV.
More than 20 years ago, a small group of New York artists created a simple design – the red ribbon – which is now one of the most recognised symbols worldwide.
The World AIDS Day red ribbon is worn to show support and solidarity for the millions of people living with HIV and AIDS.