By Áine Kenny
AIDS West is hosting a concert for World AIDS day.
The concert will take place in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church at 8pm on Sunday 2 December.
Cois Cladaigh and Bel Canto will be performing at the event.
The concert is open to all and admission is free.
This year’s theme for World AIDS Day, which will be marking its 30th anniversary on 1 December, will be “Know Your Status”.
The concert aims “to help raise awareness around HIV and to help challenge the stigma and discrimination that still exists.”
Figures from the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) indicate that there has been an 11 per cent increase in the number of people in Ireland being newly diagnosed with HIV so far in 2018.
These figures are of great concern to AIDS West.
Manager of AIDS West, Joe McDonagh, says it is vital that people get tested for HIV.
“People need to be aware of their HIV status, and the sooner a person knows their status, the sooner they can start treatment – this then leads to much better long term health outcomes. Early diagnosis is also key, as HIV is often transmitted by people who are unaware that they are HIV Positive.”
According to AIDS West, many barriers to HIV testing remain. Stigma and discrimination still deters people from taking a HIV test, and access to confidential HIV testing is still an issue of concern.
Many people still only get tested after becoming ill and symptomatic.
In an attempt to address these issues, AIDS West are expanding access to their Rapid HIV testing programme which will help people to know their HIV status by offering free community-based Rapid HIV testing.
Mr McDonagh outlines; “AIDS West is a partner in the HSE national KnowNow Programme – a initiative that has proven successful in reaching people who have not previously tested for HIV.”
“We offer free Rapid HIV Testing on the last Tuesday of each month in the Teach Solais Resource Centre at the top of Merchants Road in Galway, and we will be offering additional free Rapid HIV Testing in community based locations across the region from January 2019.”
If you would like to find out more about the concert or speak to someone at AIDS West about booking a free Rapid HIV Test please call 091 566266, or email info@aidswest.ie for more information.
