As we light up our three acute hospitals red and hold events across Lanarkshire to mark World AIDS Day, we are urging people in Lanarkshire to think about HIV, how they can protect themselves, and if they have been exposed to get tested.
During 2022, a total of 317 new HIV diagnoses were recorded in Scotland, 13 of these new infections were in Lanarkshire.
Tremendous advances that have been made in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS over the last four decades. HIV can now be regarded as a long-term medical condition that is readily treatable (albeit not curable) with modern therapies. Someone diagnosed with HIV in 2023 can anticipate a normal life expectancy – as long as they have not been diagnosed too late.
In keeping with most medical conditions, early diagnosis is essential. With HIV, early diagnosis is both the key to treatment success for the infected individual as well a corner-stone of activities aimed at preventing onwards transmission to others.
Trish Tougher, blood borne virus networks manager, Directorate of Public Health NHS Lanarkshire, said: “The highest number of reported cases of HIV is now through sexual transmission between men and women but men who have sex with men are still at high risk.
“As well as being sexually transmitted, HIV can be transmitted via mother to baby during pregnancy, and by sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.”
HIV is treatable and just one pill a day means an individual with HIV can keep their virus level so low that they cannot pass it on to a sexual partner. However, regular testing and early detection are key to living well as those diagnosed late do not respond so well to medication and in some instances, have an increased risk of dying within one year of diagnosis.
Testing for HIV and other STIs can be obtain through local sexual health clinics or free HIV self-testing kits are available from Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland and the Scottish Government by visiting test.tht.org.uk/scotland . There is also more information available from hivstigma.scot/facts/
There is also support for people who inject drugs, including steroids or melanotan, with clean injecting equipment available from community pharmacies throughout Lanarkshire. Information on finding the nearest site is available at needleexchange.scot
