On Thursday (December 1) Ealing Town Hall will be lit-up red to mark World Aids Day as pop-up HIV testing sites are hosted in the borough.

Significant progress to reduce infection has been made, however London, where in 2020 residents accounted for 37 per cent of new diagnoses made in the UK, continues to have the highest infection rate nationally.

In recent years there have been scientific leaps forward in HIV treatment, the key to which is early diagnosis.

Free and confidential testing is available all year round at a number of sexual health clinics in Ealing and neighbouring boroughs in west London as well as the London online e-service and through Spectra in Ealing.

John Dugdale, from Spectra explains more about the services they provide. He said: "Spectra provides regular testing opportunities within the local communities, in various venues and locations. Enabling people to test regularly for HIV and STI's, quickly and confidentially by experienced workers.

"We are able to provide referral pathways into statutory services and signpost to additional health related agencies for the residents of Ealing and nearby. Testing regularly reduces the chance of late diagnosis and is so easy with just a finger prick and 15 minutes of your time."

Ealing Council's cabinet member for healthy lives, Cllr Josh Blacker, said: ""HIV can affect anyone, and World Aids Day is a day when we highlight the stigma and discrimination still surrounding HIV, and commemorate the 35 million people who have died from HIV or AIDS related illnesses.

"There are now many measures available for prevention and treatment. Early diagnosis is key and free, confidential testing is available at clinics in the borough, through the online e-service for self-testing and also at open access NHS sexual health services across London."

Pop-up sites will be available this week to promote World Aids Day, where residents can have queries answered and have an onsite, free and confidential test:

Thursday, 1 December: Ealing Central Library, The Broadway, W5 5JY, 12noon-4pm

Wednesday, 30 November: The Lido Centre, 63 Mattock Lane. W13 9LA, 6-9pm.

Four proven ways to prevent HIV

'Be Sure. Know The Four' is a HIV prevention campaign run by Do It London, which highlights the four proven ways to prevent HIV.

HIV testing

Condoms

PrEP (a HIV prevention pill and tests available in sexual health clinics)

Undetectable (treatment taken by people who are HIV positive, which can prevent onward transmission)

For more information visit the Do It London website

Where to go for testing and diagnosis

For further information on local sexual health services visit:

London Northwest Healthcare Trust https://www.nwlondonsexualhealth.nhs.uk/

Spectra https://spectra-london.org.uk/

Terrence Higgins Trust https://www.tht.org.uk/our-services/support-services/tht-direct-helpline

For home testing for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections: https://shl.uk

Support for People Living with or affected by HIV: https://livingwellcic.com