World AIDS Day is a global awareness day which aims to unite people in the fight against HIV and AIDS, eradicate stigma and discrimination, increase awareness and remember those lost.
Alison Spooner, who is a Senior Project Worker at Leicester Sexual Health and manages the service’s C-Card condom scheme, said: “It’s important for us to encourage conversations around HIV/AIDS, to address myths and to ensure that people are fully informed to take steps to reduce the risk of infection. World AIDS Day gives us the opportunity to let people know the facts about HIV as well as the steps people can take to protect themselves and their partners against infection.
“We are proud to be working in partnership with Tesco in Loughborough for this event. They offer a really well accessed and popular C-Card service at their pharmacy, and we appreciate their contribution to sexual health promotion.”
Alison added: “Condoms help to protect against HIV as well as other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and are free to access with a C-Card. Young people and adults can sign up for a C-Card so they have quick and easy access to free condoms in their local area from pharmacies, education venues and local community venues. You can also contact our sexual health service about accessing PrEP, a medicine that can be taken by people who are most at risk of getting HIV, which prevents infection.”
Red ribbons, the symbol to recognise World AIDS Day, will be available, in addition to stickers with red ribbons for people to show their support on the day.
For more information about Leicester Sexual Health, which is provided by Inclusion, part of Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, visit its website at Leicester Sexual Health (mpft.nhs.uk).