ÖPIK TAKES A STAND AGAINST HIV AND STI'S (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

ÖPIK TAKES A STAND AGAINST HIV AND STI'S

February 16, 2009 4:36 PM

Visit to Terrence Higgins Trust Last week Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire, visited the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK's largest sexual health and HIV charity, to find out more about STI's and HIV, testing for HIV and Chlamydia, and other support that the charity provides.

With one in four people with HIV unaware that they have HIV, and around 1 in 10 young people with Chlamydia, the need for good sexual health awareness is ever stronger.

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STI and the number of cases keeps rising. It is also commonly known as a "silent infection" because about half of the men and most women who have the infection have no symptoms. The Terrence Higgins Trust is urging people who are worried that they may have it to get it checked and get it tested.

HIV is the fastest growing public health problem in the UK. The Health Protection Agency estimates that around 30% of those living with HIV do not know that they have the disease. Again, the THT provides HIV testing for those worried that they may have it.

Commenting on the visit, Lembit said

"I want to emphasise the incredible discretion with which your sexual health will be dealt with by the Trust. There is no need to worry alone about these issues, nor feel overwhelmed in arranging a test or the subsequent treatment - Chlamydia is treated with a series of antibiotics.

"The process was much less intimidating than I had expected and was very straightforward. The repercussions of these infections can be incredibly serious if not treated and we desperately need to reverse the rise of these infections. In short, taking a sexual health check isn't weird; it's just common sense and good practice. Do the right thing and get tested."

Ends/diwedd

Notes to editor:

For more information on the Terrence Higgins Trust, please visit www.tht.org.uk

For the YouTube clip of Lembit visiting the Terrence Higgins Trust for testing, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkr4W5Lt6jw&feature=channel_page

Please find attached photos of Lembit at the Terrence Higgins Trust in King's Cross, London.