Keir Starmer has called on world leaders to take an HIV test after becoming the first serving British prime minister and G7 leader to publicly take a test on camera. On Monday, his office shared footage of Starmer completing a rapid home HIV test in Downing Street on Friday, as part of a national campaign encouraging more people to get tested.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that 4,700 individuals in England are living with undiagnosed HIV, and increased testing is central to efforts to identify them.
In December, Starmer pledged his government’s commitment to ending new HIV cases in England by 2030, with a new “HIV action plan” set to be unveiled later this year.
“I suppose my task now is to speak to prime ministers and leaders worldwide and encourage them to do the same in their countries,” Starmer told Britain’s Metro newspaper after taking the test. “If people test, they’ll know their status, and it’s better for them to know,” he continued in comments shared by his office. “That way, they can access treatment, which will also help us all meet the goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.”
The week-long initiative, organized by Terrence Higgins Trust and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, has been running annually since 2012. During this week, people across England can order a free HIV test, with two options for home testing: one that provides results in 15 minutes and another “self-sampling” kit, which also tests for syphilis and is sent to a lab for results.
