It’s the second annual European HIV Testing Week, and organisations around Europe are coming together to encourage people to know their HIV status by getting tested. 

The ultimate goal of the European HIV testing week 2014 is to make more people aware of their HIV status and reduce late diagnosis by communicating the benefits of HIV testing. “Talk HIV. Test HIV” remains the focus for this year’s testing week, to support dialogue between all partners in order to encourage at risk individuals to ask for an HIV test and for more HIV tests to be offered to those at risk.

Testing week aims to:

• Encourage people who could have been at risk of HIV to get a test
• Encourage healthcare professionals to offer an HIV test as part of routine care in specific settings and conditions (in line with present European guidelines)
• Support and unite community organisations to scale-up HIV testing and share lessons learned between countries
• Make more policy makers aware of the socioeconomic benefits of HIV testing initiatives and how to evaluate HIV testing practices

“The European HIV testing week is about encouraging men who have sex with men and who are sexually active to consider testing for HIV if they have never tested before,” say the HSE’s Mick Quinlan.  “If you haven’t been tested in some time, it would be worth it to get re-tested. Knowing your status these days is important. Going for a free HIV test to the clinic Its also a good way to pick up safer sex information and condoms and lube.”