Created on Wednesday, 18 June 2008 08:32
Contact: Collette DuValle, 317-373-2391
Health Department Among Those Participating in National HIV Testing Day
With Marion County experiencing a syphilis outbreak and with many of those same individuals co-infected with HIV, the 2008 HIV Testing Day takes on added significance.
The Marion County Health Department will join other community-based organizations in providing free HIV testing as part of National HIV Testing Day on Wednesday, June 25. Testing will be available at all participating sites from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. A centralized phone center will be established for people to call on June 25 to receive information about testing locations and gain assistance with access to those sites. The phone center number is 221-TEST. An e-mail address for questions to be sent electronically to the Marion County health Department is 221test@hhcorp.org
An estimated 300,000 United States residents are HIV positive and do not know it. Local, state and federal health officials use National HIV Testing Day as one way to reach those who have never been tested or who have engaged in high-risk behavior since their last test.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, too many Americans with HIV are diagnosed late in the course of their infection, when they may not be able to fully benefit from life-prolonging treatments. HIV testing can reduce new infections when HIV-positive persons become aware of their status and take the necessary precautions to stop spreading the disease.
Marion County officials will also use National HIV Testing Day to promote the large number of resources available to provide testing, treatment, counseling and other support services to those who are at risk or who have tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
For more information, call 221-TEST.
