Early diagnosis and treatment enables HIV positive people to live a healthy normal life and lower the risk of passing the virus on to anyone else. Checking your HIV status is important for everyone, but particularly so for groups where HIV rates are higher, including men who have sex with men, and black African men and women.

The council’s public health department is supporting the national campaign and is working with NHS and community partners to make sure there are a wide range of options for local people to get a free, fast and confidential HIV test.

FREE and confidential HIV testing is available in a range of health settings including GP surgeries and, from November 19, the new sexual health centre near Clapham Junction Station. This state-of-the-art facility offers high-quality, confidential and fully-integrated sexual health and contraception services from 160 Falcon Road, SW11.

To find out more visit www.shswl.nhs.uk or telephone 0333 300 2100 (Monday to Friday 8am-8pm).

Regular HIV testing events are also held across the borough by Spectra. Search events.

If you’d rather take the test in the comfort of your own home, you can order a free postal test at www.test.hiv.