Credit: BBC/World of Wonder/Guy Levy
Drag Race stars team up with Axess Sexual Health To mark World AIDS Day, stars of the BBC’s Ru Paul’s Drag Race are supporting a campaign by Axess sexual health to tackle the stigma around HIV and to encourage testing, so people are aware of their HIV status.
including colleges and schools, refugee support services, social services and LGBTQ+ groups. Testing kits will also be distributed to partners working with high-risk groups to encourage a “get tested, get treated” mentality.
Joining the team from Axess sexual health are Drag Race stars Charlie Hides, Vanity Milan and Charity Kase.
For more information visit www.axess.clinic/ information/world-aids-day
Axess runs clinics which offer rapid HIV testing and treatment to people in Liverpool, Warrington, Knowsley, Halton and East Cheshire. Shirley Caddick, Clinical HIV Specialist Nurse at Axess, said: “This is a chance for people to unite in the fight against HIV and show support for people living with the virus. Effective treatment helps people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives. There is still a stigma attached to living with HIV and disclosing your status. It’s only through education and talking that this can be addressed, and I’d like to thank the drag stars who have helped make sure this message is heard far and wide. Anyone who feels they have put themselves at risk can contact their local Axess clinic for rapid testing, treatment and support.” Drag queen Charity Kase, who spoke about living with HIV when appearing on the latest series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK, said: “It’s really important that every single one of us gets tested. We all have an HIV status. It is an opportunity to educate ourselves and those around us about HIV. If someone is living with HIV and is taking their medication regularly, they cannot pass the virus on.” The outreach team from Axess has developed HIV e-learning resources which will be shared with partner organisations 14 | LUHFT Life
Butterfly clinic relaunches The Butterfly sexual health clinic specifically for trans and non-binary people is now open. The service provides STI treatments, contraception as well as rapid 20-minute HIV testing and drug and alcohol support and advice. Patients can also access vaccinations and HIV prevention treatment (PEP and PrEP). The free sexual health clinic is open in both the Royal, with patients able to access services on Mondays, between 1.30pm – 6pm, and The Arch at Knowsley, every Tuesday, by appointment. Committed to delivering equity for the trans community, Axess has ensured that a comprehensive, confidential sexual health service for transgender people has been at the forefront of plans and, in the future, hopes to expand Butterfly across all of its regional services. Visit www.axess.clinic for full details or email: Butterfly@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.
