African members of the community, gay and bisexual men in Brent are being targeted in a new campaign promoting the importance of being regularly tested for HIV.

Brent Council is supporting ‘Do It London’ which is urging residents to undergo an annual test, or when changing sexual partner, to avoid a late diagnosis which increases the risk of transmission and reduces life expectancy.

In 2014, an estimated 941 people aged between 15 to 59 in Brent were living with HIV, with 37.9 per cent having had a late diagnosis.

According to figures from the NHS the two groups with the highest rates of HIV are gay and bisexual men (approximately 1 in 20) and Black African heterosexuals (approximately 1 in 56 men and 1 in 22 women).

Cllr Krupesh Hirani, Brent Council’s cabinet member for community wellbeing, said: “Testing for HIV is incredibly important and in London over 500,000 people test for HIV every year.

“We are particularly interested in encouraging both men who have sex with men (MSM) and African communities in the area to take a test.

“There are many places to take a free HIV test and all services are quick, easy and completely confidential. People can decide where they would feel most comfortable being tested.

“Free self-sampling HIV testing kits are available to residents of Brent. For more information visit test.hiv.”

To find out more about the campaign visit doitlondon.org.