STAFF working for NHS North Somerset and North Somerset Council will join forces on Thursday and wear a red ribbon as part of World AIDS Day.

 
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In 2010 figures showed that less than one in 1,000 North Somerset residents aged 15-59 suffer from HIV.

But Becky Pollard, director of public health for the trust, said despite the relatively low number of HIV sufferers in the area, no-one should take the threat lightly.

She said: “Now is not the time for complacency and we need to work together to raise awareness of HIV and to encourage and support early testing.

“Across the UK, the epidemic is still growing with around 70,000 people currently living with the virus and 4,000 new diagnoses every year.

“Sadly levels of awareness, especially among young people, seem to be lower than they were 10 years ago and there is a false perception that new wonder drugs protect us from the devastating effects of AIDS.

“HIV is commonly associated with certain groups of people, such as gay men and the African community. However, HIV does not discriminate and it has the capacity to affect everyone, irrespective of their sexual orientation or ethnic group.”

For more information about the disease and how to prevent it spreading, people are advised to contact their local medical centre.