World AIDS Day display opens at Ashton Indoor Market

A month-long World AIDS Day display is now open at Ashton Indoor Market, aiming to encourage honest conversations about HIV and raise awareness across Tameside.

The installation, organised by Tameside Council’s Public Health team, debuted on Monday 1 December and will remain in place throughout December.

The event provided visitors with clear, up-to-date information about HIV, emphasising the importance of routine testing and early diagnosis. Representatives from George House Trust were on hand to speak with shoppers, offering guidance on living well with HIV and the support available locally. Red ribbons, the widely recognised symbol of solidarity, were also available for visitors to wear.

A key message highlighted during the event is that HIV is no longer a life-limiting illness. With early diagnosis and effective treatment, the virus can be suppressed to an undetectable level. This means it cannot be passed on to sexual partners or transmitted from mother to baby, a fact captured in the principle Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). In Tameside, 97% of people receiving treatment have achieved an undetectable viral load.

Local data shows that HIV prevalence in the borough is 2.17 per 1,000 people aged 15–59, and concerningly, one in four new diagnoses are made late, when the virus has already begun to impact health. Public health experts stress that HIV does not discriminate, anyone who has unprotected sex can be at risk. National trends show new diagnoses among heterosexual women and men as well as gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

Routine testing remains the only way to know your HIV status, and it plays a vital role in preventing onward transmission. Yet despite major advances in treatment and care, stigma continues to deter some individuals from seeking help. Tameside Council says it is committed to challenging outdated attitudes and supporting those living with HIV.

Councillor Taf Sharif, Tameside Council Executive Member for Population Health and Wellbeing, said: “World AIDS Day is an opportunity to challenge stigma and share the facts about HIV. Effective treatment means people diagnosed early can live long and healthy lives, and it also prevents transmission. We want to normalise HIV testing and show support for everyone living with HIV in Tameside.”

Residents seeking more information or wishing to book an online STI test can contact Locala on 0161 507 9460 or visit locala.org.uk/services/sti-online-testing.