SETW 20265 webinar: Reaching the Unreached: Practical Approaches to Normalising Testing with Key Populations

Time

21 May 2026, 15:00-16:00 (CEST)

Background

The annual theme for European Testing Week in 2026 (available here) emphasizes the importance of ensuring that resources for testing are used for those who need it the most, especially in light of the current dwindling political interest and funding for HIV and hepatitis.

Despite increasing numbers of HIV tests carried out in Europe, the number of people living with HIV that are diagnosed late is growing and exceeds 50%. For Hepatitis B and C, these numbers are even higher and go above 60%. Late diagnosis has serious consequences for onwards transmission and individual health outcomes. And it is a clear sign that our testing strategies and efforts need to be adjusted and redirected to close these testing gaps and overcome barriers to access for certain groups. This webinar will focus on innovative methods for reaching populations that have limited access to testing services.

Speakers & case stories

  • Abimbola Ajomale, Noaks Ark Mosaik, Sweden
    “Community-driven approaches to integrated testing in Southern Sweden”.
    Noaks Ark Mosaik will share how they have developed community-centred, co-designed and culturally sensitive integrated testing approaches. This includes practical examples of how we have reached so-called “hard-to-reach” populations, such as the Somali community in Rosengård, Malmö, through trust-building, community engagement and tailored outreach.

  • Jenny Kaasinen-Wickman, Hivpoint Finland
    “Strengthening testing among people who use drugs through low-threshold services”.
    As part of Hivpoint’s Right to an HIV Test project, the organisation has developed practice-based models for normalising discussions around HIV, STI and hepatitis prevention and for increasing testing uptake among people who use drugs in Housing First units, through street-based outreach work and through low-threshold health counselling and harm reduction services.

  • Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak, Foundation for Social Education, Poland
    “Non-medical integrated testing – experiences from Foundation for Social Education, Poland”.
    Discover how Foundation for Social Education delivers integrated, non-medical testing for HIV, HCV, syphilis, and TB across diverse and often underserved populations—including prisoners, migrants, people who use drugs, and LGBTQ+ communities, complemented by innovative self-testing approaches.

Moderator

Jürgen Rockstroh

Webinar objectives

You will learn:

  • Why traditional testing offers fail to reach some populations

  • Practical, adaptable methods for normalising HIV and HCV testing and reaching underserved populations with testing and linkage to care.

  • How to plan community-lead, culturally competent approaches that reduce stigma and increase access.

There will be a Q&A section with the audience at the end of the webinar.

Join us to discuss how to improve testing efforts and close the testing gap!