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Council Mayor visits Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to mark World AIDS Day

01 December 2015

The Mayor and Mayoress of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) visited Chelsea and Westminster Hospital today to mark World AIDS Day.

The Mayor and Mayoress of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) visited Chelsea and Westminster Hospital today to mark World AIDS Day.

An awareness and fundraising event was held at the hospital, with volunteers and staff handing out red ribbons and giving information and statistics on HIV. The awareness day at the hospital was marked with balloons, ribbons, leaflets and an information stand where nurses, doctors and others met patients and the public to discuss issues around HIV.

Clinical Director and Chair of the British HIV Association Dr David Asboe said: “This was a fantastic day where we aimed to raise much-needed funding as well as improving  people’s awareness of  this important issue. It was really good to see so many people interested in playing a part in the day, whether that was staff, volunteers, patients or members of the public.”

The sexual health team were also on hand, in a testing bus on the hospital forecourt. The bus was at the hospital until around 5pm, when it moved on to G-A-Y Bar in Old Compton Street in Soho.

Lead Nurse for HIV Services Sheena Basnayake said: “This was a great event to mark World AIDS Day and highlights the trust’s commitment to reach as many people as possible. Raising awareness and diagnosing as many people as possible means we can provide the services people need as soon as possible.”

The awareness raising day marked the end of the European HIV/Hepatitis Testing Week, which saw the trust’s sexual health team visit a number of community sites, including the Houses of Parliament and Hammersmith Underground station.

RBKC Mayor Cllr Robert Freeman said: “Days like today show how important it is to be aware of the issues around HIV. It provided a great opportunity for people to ask questions and pick up information, while the sexual health team and testing bus have been on tour in the community throughout the week.”

The money raised from the hospital event will go directly to supporting HIV patients at the hospital.

The event today would not have been possible without the volunteers from the St Stephen’s Centre, who have worked very hard.

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