Southern NSW Local Health District, in partnership with Grand Pacific Health, Wandarma Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Service, Red Cross and ACON, are conducting events to encourage people to test for HIV more often and to increase community awareness about prevention of HIV and support for those living with HIV.

The hospital staff will be at Bay Capital Chemist in Orient St at 9am and Bega Littleton Gardens and Ayres Way at 1.30pm. 

This is the Bike Riders’ third promotional ride to the South Coast to promote the World AIDS Day message of ending HIV.

Grand Pacific Health and Red Cross staff will be on hand to meet the riders in Batemans Bay and Bega and give out information on HIV and World AIDS Day. 

“More people are testing and accessing support services than ever before, but there’s still more work to be done to ensure timely diagnoses and enable access to early treatment uptake,” a Southern NSW Local Health District spokeswoman said.

“HIV testing is easier and more accessible than ever before. HIV can affect people of all ages, genders, races and cultures.

“Early treatment is a key to an effective response to HIV. Most people receiving treatment in Australia have a similar life expectancy to people without HIV.

“In NSW, over 90 per cent of people with HIV attending public HIV and sexual health clinics are now on treatment. 

“World AIDS Day is an opportunity to address the stigma that persists in Australia, undermining prevention, testing and treatment efforts and causing social isolation for many people living with HIV.”

For more information on HIV and HIV testing, visit: www.health.nsw.gov.au

The riders will visit Bega next week, running workshops from Monday to Wednesday.