HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week will take place from 18-25 November 2016 in 50 European countries. Testing week is an initiative that was launched in Europe in 2013 to help more people to become aware of their HIV status. Now in its fourth year and the second time hepatitis testing has been included.
Today, at least one in three of the 2.5 million people living with HIV in Europe are unaware that they are HIV positive. Half of those living with HIV are diagnosed late – which delays access to treatment.
Hepatitis B and C are common among people at risk of and living with HIV. Around 13.3 million people and 15 million people are living with hepatitis B and C in the WHO European Region, respectively. As the disease is often asymptomatic and left untreated, chronic hepatitis is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and live cancer. The majority of people with hepatitis C remain undiagnosed and only a small minority in Europe (3.5%) receive treatment.
These statistics suggest that we need to be doing more to encourage individuals who are unknowingly living with HIV and/ or hepatitis to take a test, and to better target people who could be at risk.
European HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week offers partners across Europe the opportunity to unite to increase awareness of the benefits of HIV and hepatitis testing among those who are at risk. In 2015, more than 400 organisations from across 53 countries took part in testing week and thousands more people are now aware of their HIV and hepatitis status.
You can read more information about the testing week here.
Organizations can sign up to participate here.
