British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on world leaders to take an HIV test after becoming the first sitting UK prime minister and G7 leader to publicly undergo testing on camera.
Downing Street on Monday released footage of Starmer completing a rapid home test last Friday, supporting a nationwide initiative aimed at encouraging HIV testing across the UK. The campaign, led by the Terrence Higgins Trust and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, runs annually and allows people to order free home test kits.
Starmer’s Commitment to Ending HIV
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that around 4,700 people in England are living with undiagnosed HIV. Increased testing is a key strategy in identifying cases and reducing transmission.
In December, Starmer reaffirmed his government’s commitment to eliminating new HIV cases in England by 2030, pledging to release a new “HIV action plan” later this year to outline the steps needed to meet the target.
“I suppose my task now is to talk to prime ministers and leaders across the world and say, you too should do it in your own country,” Starmer told Metro newspaper after taking the test.
“If people test, they will know their status. It is better that people know,” he added. “You can then get access to treatment, and that will also help meet our collective target to end new HIV transmissions by 2030.”
Nationwide HIV Testing Initiative
The UK’s annual HIV testing week, running since 2012, offers free at-home test kits to encourage more people to check their status. Two types of kits are available: one providing results within 15 minutes and another that includes syphilis testing and requires lab analysis.
As the UK ramps up efforts to combat HIV, Starmer’s public test serves as a powerful message, urging global leaders to follow suit in breaking stigma and promoting early detection.
