Time to read
We are delighted that Preventx, the largest provider of remote sexual health services in the UK, has signed up to become HIV Confident – the charter mark for businesses and organisations to tackle HIV stigma.
HIV Confident is England’s largest anti-HIV stigma programme. It improves knowledge, changes attitudes and builds confidence amongst staff, ensuring that people living with HIV can work for and access organisation’s services without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Operating at the intersection of healthcare technology, diagnostics and public health, Preventx provides end-to-end digital sexual health services including STI testing, contraception, treatment pathways and HIV prevention, through Sexual Health London (SHL.UK) which is the largest publicly funded remote sexual health diagnostics programme globally, SH.UK, test.me, freetest.me and services in Europe. Preventx employs over 115 staff across clinical, technology and operational teams, operating a UKAS-accredited and CQC registered in-house laboratory processing hundreds of thousands of tests each month.
HIV Confident organisations have completed a programme that includes staff surveys, online eLearning, policy reviews and development of systems to report stigma. Preventx will be the first sexual health company to commit to being HIV Confident, reinforcing its commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive workplace and helping to challenge stigma around HIV.
Annie Howard, Senior Programme Manager, HIV Confident said:
“Stigma is still one of the biggest barriers facing people living with HIV today, preventing people from accessing essential healthcare and taking HIV tests.
As the largest provider of sexual health testing in the UK, it is significant that Preventx has publicly committed to tackling HIV stigma. Preventx is trusted by over 80 NHS trusts and local authorities to deliver sexual health testing and HIV PrEP, empowering people to normalise and speak about sexual health. As HIV Confident’s membership of NHS trusts and local authorities continues to grow, it only makes sense for Preventx to join us as our next partner.
We are delighted to welcome them to the HIV Confident community and support them to continue championing inclusivity by addressing HIV stigma within the sexual health sector.”
Hannah Wilson, Director of People & Culture at Preventx said:
“Becoming HIV Confident is an important step for Preventx as we work to create a workplace where everyone feels supported, included and able to be themselves. As an organisation working at the forefront of sexual health, we have a responsibility to challenge the stigma that still surrounds HIV and ensure our colleagues have the knowledge and confidence to have open, informed conversations.
We’re proud to commit to becoming the first HIV Confident company within the sexual health sector and look forward to using our position to help create positive change, both within Preventx and across the wider sector.”
To become HIV Confident please visit www.hivconfident.org.uk or contact [email protected].
HIV Confident is the UK’s largest HIV anti-stigma charter mark. HIV Confident is managed by National AIDS Trust and Positively UK, and funded by Fast Track Cities London.