By Erin Marsh
In summary
National HIV Testing Week returns from 10 February, with MESMAC offering free, confidential HIV testing - including self-test and postal kits and drop-in sessions - across Yorkshire.
Testing is free and confidential. It’s also the only way to know if you have HIV and worth doing because people can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms. It’s easier than you think to get and take an HIV test, whether you use a sexual health clinic, a GP, or prefer the convenience of using an at-home test kit.
During National HIV Testing Week, you can order a free self-test, which you take yourself to get a result in just 15 minutes, or a postal test where you take a sample yourself and send it off to a lab who will then contact you with your result.
Regular HIV testing benefits all of us. If you are HIV negative, you can still use protection such as PrEP or condoms to stay negative. If you are HIV positive, you can go on treatment and live a long and healthy life — people on effective HIV treatment can’t pass it on to partners.
The sooner you know your HIV status, the sooner you can get on treatment if needed to stay healthy and avoid passing the virus on to anyone else. Most people will get a negative result, but whatever happens, it’s important to know that anyone diagnosed with HIV in the UK can access free treatment and support.
Check out where to find us this week:
Bradford
Monday
MESMAC Office (28 Chapel St): 10am - 8:30pm
Tuesday
Bradford Hotel: 11am - 2pm
Wednesday
Bradford City FC Club: 11am - 1pm
Thursday
MESMAC Office (28 Chapel St): 10am - 6pm
Wellbeing Group (BIASAN): 12pm - 3pm
LGBTQ+ Hub (city centre): 5:30pm - 8pm
Friday
Bradford City Park: 9am - 2pm
Saturday
Seventh Day Adventist: 9:30am - 3pm
MESMAC Office (28 Chapel St): 11am - 3pm
Hull
Monday
14+ College: 12pm - 1:30pm
Wilberforce College: 12pm - 2pm
Tuesday
Online HIV Training: 10am - 12pm
Hull College: 10am - 2pm
Wednesday
Kenworthy House: 10am - 1pm
Hull Uni Union: 1pm - 4pm
Atra Youth Centre: 6:30pm - 8pm
Gentry Spa: 7pm - 10pm
Thursday
Gentry Spa: 1pm - 4pm
Friday
Wyke College: 10am-2pm
ReNew: 12pm - 2pm
Condom Event at MESMAC Hull Office: 2pm - 5pm
Saturday
MESMAC Hull Office (15 Freetown Way) drop-in for ages 13-19: 12pm - 4pm
Leeds
Monday
Seacroft Community Hub: 10am - 1:30pm
Reginald Centre: 3pm - 6pm
Tuesday
Steam Complex Sauna: 11am - 1pm
Leeds Beckett Uni: 11am - 3pm
Rainbow Hearts Women's Health: 10:30am - 12:30pm
MESMAC Leeds Office: 2pm - 8pm
Wednesday
Meeting Point: 12:30pm - 3pm
Leeds Student Medical Practice: 10am - 4pm
Leeds Uni Union: 11am - 3pm
Thursday
Leeds Uni LGBTQ+ Society: 12pm - 2pm
Queens Court and Viaduct: 5pm - 10pm
Friday
Marsden House: 11am - 2pm
Rotherham
Monday
Drop-in at 11 Mansfield Road: 3pm - 7pm
Tuesday
Drop-in at 11 Mansfield Road: 10am - 2pm
Appointments available at 11 Mansfield Road: 2pm - 5pm
Wednesday
Appointments available at 11 Mansfield Road: 10am - 1pm