Intensive HIV and Viral Hepatitis Testing Week, November 21-28

European Testing Week - Nov 2022

From Helsinki to Lisbon and, in Portugal, from North to South and islands, a week in which civil society organizations come together to carry out an intensive HIV and Viral Hepatitis testing campaign.

If Europe and Portugal want to comply with international strategies to eliminate HIV infection, viral hepatitis and other STIs, as a serious public health problem, government and community institutions must remain united and active. And they must reach out to all potentially affected populations. We do this every day at the GAT, but this week we will redouble our efforts.

The European HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week takes place from 21 to 28 November. During these days, it will be possible to screen for HIV and viral hepatitis in various civil society organizations. Tests are free, fast and anonymous.

You can consult here the national map of testing sites.

At GAT, our usual services will be open, in addition to mobile units in locations that will be announced, until the 21st, on GAT Afrik, GAT Almada and GAT Move-se Facebook pages.

Screening targeted at the most vulnerable groups, as well as the distribution of prevention material, such as condoms, is one of our priorities.

The European HIV and Viral Hepatitis Testing Week has been organized by EuroTest since 2013. And this year it will once again bring together a huge group of partners in the public health area, not only to increase the number of tests carried out in a community context, but also to disseminate essential information to increase the health literacy of the population of the European continent.

In Portugal, the member organizations of the Community Screening Network and associations that join the initiative, highlight the importance of maintaining these services, namely the need to reinforce financial support for the continuation of their activities, and the removal of any barrier in the access to health care, which today we know still exist.

Outside Europe, Portuguese-speaking countries are a priority

Also this week, the third edition of the International Testing Week will be organized together with all member partners of Coalition PLUS. The launch of the initiative will take place in co-organization with GAT and MATRAM, in Maputo, on 21 November. Through the Portuguese Speaking Network, GAT is promoting increased coverage and reinforcing tests’ availability in a community context.

Both initiatives, the European and the International Test Weeks, develop screening activities so that more people can know their serological status for these infections, as well as timely access the health care they need.

Screening continues to be one of the main tools for achieving the goals set by the United Nations by 2035.