Be sure, know the four: protect and prevent HIV
Nov 27 to 3 Dec is PrEP Awareness Week, and we’re encouraging everyone to know the four scientifically proven, free, accessible ways to prevent HIV: regular testing, condoms, PrEP, and effective treatment as prevention (becoming ‘undetectable’). Using a combination of the four is the most effective way to stay safe from HIV.
Testing for HIV is the only way to know your HIV status. Knowing you have HIV means you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus to anyone else.
Don’t guess your sexual health. Get tested!
- Order a free test kit online from Sexual Health London
- visit one of Barnet’s Sexual Health Clinics
- find Point of Care HIV Testing near you www.brook.org.uk/find-a-service
Use condoms to protect yourself from HIV & STIs if you are sexually active with new or casual partners.
It’s never too late to PrEP and get protected against HIV infection. PrEP is available in Barnet. It is a medication for people who are HIV negative, to help prevent them from getting HIV if they are at high risk. If taken correctly, PrEP can reduce your risk of HIV infection by up to 99%.
A new online service for PrEP has launched this week, which allows existing PrEP patients, who are clinically eligible and resident in the North Central London boroughs of Camden, Islington, Haringey, and Barnet, to access PrEP using an online form, with a 6-month supply of PrEP mailed out or available to click and collect at Mortimer Market Centre. The service will maximise convenience for patients and increase capacity within the service, making sure more people can benefit from PrEP. Find out more about PrEP.
Most people living in the UK with HIV are on effective treatment and virally suppressed, which means they can’t pass it on. This is known as U=U – undetectable = untransmissible. Knowing you have HIV means you can start treatment, stay healthy & avoid passing the virus on to anyone else.
This World AIDS Day, Friday 1 December, help tackle the stigma that surrounds HIV. Most people living with HIV have experienced stigma or discrimination due to their status, even from their friends, family and partners and it deters people from testing and accessing effective and timely treatment. In 2021 in Barnet, 38% of HIV diagnoses were at late stage.
Rock the Ribbon, test, prevent, protect, and help bring an end to new cases of HIV by 2030.
Visit our pages for local sexual health services and support.