PEOPLE in Leeds are being encouraged to test for HIV with a simple finger prick test this week.

Sexual health charities, Leeds City Council and the NHS are increasing community based sessions around the city as part of National HIV Testing week, which began on Saturday, November 16.

Despite advances in prevention, testing and treatment contributing to a national reduction in the number of people diagnosed, there are still around one in 12 people who are unaware they have HIV, according to experts.

They say late diagnosis rates are still too high – 43 per cent in 2018 - leading to poorer long-term health and a tenfold increase of death within one year.

The campaign aims to encourage groups most affected by HIV including gay and bisexual men and black Africans to test.

Councillor Rebecca Charlwood, chair of the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Testing has never been easier, either through accessing a self-sampling kit online, visiting one of the many ‘finger prick testing’ sessions within the community, or visiting one of Leeds’ key sexual health services.”

All community based testing sessions can be viewed by searching HIV Testing Week on www.leedssexualhealth.com.