World AIDS Day 2023- Get tested and know your status

By NHS Grampian on 27/11/2023

Come and get tested at Huntly Asda on Wednesday November 29th 10.00am-3.00pm. Look out for our Mobile Information Bus. 

World AIDS Day 2023- Get tested and know your status

World AIDS Day takes place on 1 December each year. It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. 

This year we are celebrating World AIDS Day by getting out on the road and offering free and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C across Grampian.

Have you ever been tested for HIV?

Did you know that it is estimated that 7% of people living with HIV in Scotland don’t know they have it? That’s not surprising, as most people with HIV don’t have any symptoms and people can live with the virus for many years before it eventually affects their immune system.

HIV is a long term health condition which is very easy to manage. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The virus targets the immune system and if untreated, weakens your ability to fight infections and disease.

HIV treatment stops the virus spreading and damaging the immune system. When treatment is taken as prescribed – usually just one tablet a day - it can reduce the level of virus in the blood to such a low level it becomes undetectable. When the virus reaches an undetectable level for 6 months it becomes untransmittable - it can’t be passed on to others. This is known as U=U Undetectable = Untransmittable. People with living with HIV who are taking treatment have a normal, healthy lifespan.