Prince Harry is promoting the importance of HIV testing, one quick finger prick at a time.
The royal visited Guys and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London on Tuesday to get tested live on Facebook in an effort to highlight how simple and painless the experience can be for individuals. The instant test, which lasted all of one minute, involved pricking the prince’s finger for a drop of blood, which was then checked for either being reactive or non-reactive right there on the spot.
Prince Harry joins other influencers, like Miss Universe, who are working to slam the stigma and fear associated with HIV testing. It is estimated that 17.1 million people who are infected with HIV are not aware of their diagnosis, and thus are not receiving the proper treatment and could potentially be putting others at risk. Research shows that early diagnosis of HIV can help an individual better manage the virus.
By highlighting the quick process, the prince is giving a public platform to a necessary health measure. It’s important to take the steps to get tested in order to, as the doctor testing Harry points out, “enjoy a good healthy sex life, enjoy working [and] enjoy retirement.”
And while the importance of testing is no laughing matter, the prince still managed to show off some of his cheeky charm in the video.
“So whether you’re a man, woman, gay, straight, black, white, whatever, even ginger, why wouldn’t you come and have a test?” Harry asked.
Check out the entire video above and then find a testing center near you.
