One of Test Valley’s MP’s is campaigning for more women to take a HIV test as part of efforts to eradicate transmission of the virus in the UK by 2030.

As part of HIV Testing Week, which runs from February 1 to 7, Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, has been raising awareness of HIV in women following official statistics showing a slower decline in women than in men in the UK.

The MP took her own HIV test as part of her efforts to encourage more women to do the same, following the results of a survey which suggest that only 20 per cent of the UK population have had such a test.

“I want to see an end to the stigma and fear which still is associated with HIV testing, she said, continuing: “Over 106,00 people are living with HIV in the UK, and today’s medication means the vast majority of people diagnosed with HIV can expect a normal and healthy life and cannot pass on the virus. But there are still far too few women coming forward to be tested”.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus which causes AIDS. It infects humans via the transfer of bodily fluids, generally through unprotected sex or blood, before becoming dormant in the body’s cells. Following the body’s immune system becoming compromised, it re-emerges and devastates the immune system, with other diseases then more likely to cause death.

Caroline Nokes made reference to the recent Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin, written by Russell T Davies, which looks at the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.

“Many have watched the brilliant C4 drama It’s a Sin recently,” she said, “which managed to take me right back to the 1980s, and I discovered a great deal about the way HIV and AIDS patients were treated in those dark days.”

She noted that medical advances to combat the disease have come on significantly since that time. For instance, medications such as PrEP can reduce the chance of catching the virus through unprotected sex by up to 99 per cent.

While there is currently no cure, antiretroviral drugs are used to keep the disease under control, and to prevent infected individuals from passing the virus on while allowing them to live a normal life.

The government recently announced an ambition to reduce transmission of HIV in the UK to zero by 2030. Data from the Terrance Higgins Trust suggests that there may be up to 6,700 people in the UK living with undiagnosed HIV, with the rate of late diagnosis being particularly prevent in heterosexual men (52 per cent) and the over 65s (59 per cent).

Only one in five UK adults have had a HIV test, their survey suggests, and Caroline Nokes wants to ensure that women, who are less likely to take the test, are coming forward. As part of this, she took a home HIV test, which is received through the post and allows people to take a blood sample they can send to be tested.

She said: “I want to see an end to the stigma and fear which still is associated with HIV testing.

“So this week I received my free HIV test through the post, and did the test which was quick and easy, and importantly can be done at home.

“Over 106,00 people are living with HIV in the UK, and today’s medication means the vast majority of people diagnosed with HIV can expect a normal and healthy life and cannot pass on the virus. But there are still far too few women coming forward to be tested, so I am working with the Terrence Higgins Trust and others to beat down that stigma and encourage women to take control of their own health.”

The MP will also address a meeting of the LGBT+ Conservatives on January 5 to discuss the issue of eradicating HIV transmission.

Members of the public who want to obtain a free HIV test can do so by heading to the website of It Starts With Me: https://www.startswithme.org.uk/. Alternatively, to test a wider range of STIs, including HIV, you can head to Let’s Talk About It: https://www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk/worried-about-stis/order-a-test-online/