Interior Health says there have been huge gains in HIV testing as World AIDS Day approaches.
STOP HIV Program Implementation Leader, Maja Karlsson says when individuals are diagnosed and start treatment, the treatment is really great.
“What happens is that the virus in the person’s body drops down to a level that you can’t even detect-you can’t even see that it’s there and when that happens not only is that person’s individual health far improved, the risk of transmitting to anybody drops,” Karlsson said.
Since 2013, HIV testing in the region has increased by 50% with HIV testing rates now exceeding 3,500 tests per 100,000 people.
The results come as Interior Health marks World AIDS Day on Dec. 1and the one year anniversary of the My Health is Sexy campaign.
Interior Health is looking at rolling out routine HIV testing to ER patients receiving bloodwork at the Cariboo Memorial Hospital and 100 Mile District General Hospital in mid-February/March.
The Williams Lake Boys and Girls Club on December will be offering free and confidential testing in support of  World Aids Day at the Williams Lake TRU campus on Dec. 3.