Rock the Ribbon for World AIDS Day – HIV is still with us, show your support

Published: Thursday, December 1, 2022

To mark World Aids day, we are committed to:

  • addressing and tackling the inequalities in access to HIV treatment.
  • working closely with our healthcare providers to tackle the barriers to HIV testing, prevention, and care.
  • raising awareness of and normalising HIV/AIDs, recruiting non-judgemental staff in clinics to ensure services are accessible to all.
  • delivering outreach to the communities who are least likely to access services.

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1 December marks World AIDS Day; an opportunity for people all over the world to come together to celebrate the achievements that have been made in the fight against HIV/AIDs, to stand in solidarity with those living with HIV and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related Illness.

Councillor Graeme Henderson, Cabinet member for health said,

“Today’s World AIDS Day theme ‘Equalise’ is all about highlighting the avoidable inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic.

“They are avoidable. We can tackle them.

“We’re playing our part and we urge everyone locally to do the same and show your support for people living with HIV/AIDs.”

Get involved,

  • Show your support on social media, using the #Rocktheribbon hashtag
  • Donate to the National Aids Trust, Text REDRIBBON followed by the amount you want to donate (e.g. REDRIBBON2 or REDRIBBON5) to 70085 or donate online

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Wandsworth Council and its sexual health service providers are working towards a reduction in the number of people with undiagnosed and late diagnosed HIV.

Early diagnosis and testing significantly reduce the risk of future HIV transmission and changes the course of HIV from a fatal infection to a manageable condition.

Testing can be easily carried out with just a quick, easy and painless finger-prick test.

In line with national trends, over the past two-years Wandsworth has seen a reduced rate of new HIV diagnoses, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic which changed sexual behaviour, disrupted HIV testing and limited access to on-site sexual health and HIV services.

The borough has also seen a growing and higher than average number of diagnoses made at a late stage of infection, reaching 42.2 per cent of diagnoses between 2019 and 2021 compared to the London average of 38.6 per cent.

The council is partnered with the below organisations who offer testing and other support services locally:

  • Spectra offers face-to-face HIV testing at its outreach sessions and in the Spectra office, and guided testing from your own home.

  • METRO Charity offers free HIV services for people living with HIV, including advice and advocacy.

  • Sexual Health South West London has a list of sexual health clinics offering sexual health testing.

  • Order a free self-test kit to do at home via the National HIV Testing