A Mayor says she plans on getting tested for HIV at a public sexual health awareness event to encourage others to follow her lead. 

Cllr Yemi Osho, Mayor of Waltham Forest, will attend an open workshop in Walthamstow Town Square on Wednesday, November 25 where teams will be handing out testing kits and leaflets.

A number of events will be held across Waltham Forest for HIV Testing Week which runs until Saturday, November 25.

It is estimated that about one in eight people living with the virus do not know they have it.

Cllr Osho said: “Testing is as easy as a finger prick test, or a urine / saliva sample, and results can be sent quickly to your home.

“Starting treatment as soon as possible is important if you have been infected with HIV.

“Thanks to advances in treatments, many people with HIV are able to lead full and healthy lives.

“If you can, come along to Walthamstow Town Square this Wednesday  where I will be getting tested.”

This week also sees the launch of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Impact trial at sexual health clinics in east London, where HIV rates are particularly high.

PrEP is a treatment for people who are HIV negative that reduces the chances of them acquiring the virus and the first patients in the trial were brought in on Monday.

Positive East, Barts Health, YMCA and the council have teamed up to raise awareness about HIV and staff workshops will be held at Whipps Cross Hospital to educate the teams on how to better support patients.

Cllr Naheed Asghar, cabinet member for health and voluntary sector partnerships, said: “Testing is working. In the UK more people are testing and starting HIV treatment earlier.

“As a result, the UK is witnessing a substantial decline in HIV diagnoses but there is more to be done. 

HIV is very treatable now, especially if caught early.

“Testing helps identify those who are undiagnosed and avoids late diagnosis and transmission to others.

“HIV is particularly high amongst men who have sex with men (MSM), and testing is lowest among African community. We are encouraging people from these groups to test.”