There has been a 25 per cent jump in the number of people tested for HIV in New South Wales this year, the State Government says.
There are around 10,000 people living with HIV in NSW and an estimated 1,000 more who are unaware they are infected with the disease.
Monday is World Aids Day, and the NSW Government has used the occasion to open the first permanent shopfront testing centre in Sydney’s Darlinghurst.
Run by community health group ACON and funded by the NSW Government, the testing service will open on Oxford Street next year.
“HIV testing is now easier and faster than ever before,” Health Minister Jillian Skinner said.
“On World AIDS day last year I launched the first pop-up testing service at Taylor Square in a shopfront that was open during Mardi Gras.”
The Minister said it was a huge success, reaching people who had never been tested before.
“We are working closely with everybody, all of the stakeholders to provide a mixture of high quality and innovative services,” Ms Skinner said.
“This includes express clinics, rapid tests, after hours services, drop-in clinics, faster results and online booking.”
Ms Skinner said she is passionate about ending HIV transmission in NSW by the end of the decade.
She said it is not an unrealistic goal.
“Testing continues to increase in NSW particularly amongst our high risk populations,” she said.
“From July to September this year over 9,000 tests took place in publicly funded sexual health services.”
That is a 25 per cent increase on the same quarter last year.
Ms Skinner said she is a big supporter of the gay community in its efforts to raise awareness on the importance of safe sex, and to encourage those with HIV to start treatment immediately.
“I have known people who’ve been impacted by HIV for as long as the disease has existed,” she said.
“As Health Minister I believe I have a commitment, an obligation, a responsibility to speak out and try and help deal with the stigma and discrimination that might still exist around this disease.”
The new service will begin testing next year, staffed by nurses from the local health district service.