The St. Joseph Health Department plans to hold a free testing for HIV Friday for the twentieth years in a row.
The City said new HIV infections have remained at about 50,000 in the United States for more than a decade. One-half of these new infections occur in persons under the age of 25.
On June 27, 1995 the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) organized the first National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) in partnership with other national and local entities. This unique initiative sends the message that there are powerful reasons for learning one’s HIV status.
The theme for 2015 is “TAKE THE TEST, TAKE CONTROL”, which promotes selfawareness and personal responsibility, encouraging everyone to get tested and have a conversation about being safe. The only way to know if you are infected with HIV is to get tested.
The City of St. Joseph Health Department and Northwest Missouri community partners will celebrate twenty years of hosting the free annual HIV Testing event on Friday, June 26th. HIV testing will be offered on a walk in basis at the St. Joseph Health Department from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
“We’re hopeful that people will take the time to stop by Patee Market and get tested. It only takes a few minutes to take control of your health,” said Kelly Kibirige, supervisor of the Community Health division of the St. Joseph Health Department.
The city said a great deal has changed since HIV testing began over 25 years ago. The CLEARVUE rapid HIV antibody test is 99.98% accurate and provides preliminary results in 15 minutes. Taking the test, and taking control of this aspect of a person’s overall health, is a matter of a small prick to a fingertip to collect a blood sample, and a fifteen minute wait.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and nearly one in seven of those are not aware they are infected. As with many threats to health, early diagnosis allows a person to fully benefit from available life-extending treatments. Among those initially diagnosed with HIV infection during 2012, one-quarter were simultaneously diagnosed with AIDS, indicating they were likely infected for many years without seeking confirmation or treatment.
HIV testing is available at the St. Joseph Health Department, 904 S. 10th Street. Aside from the free, walk-in testing on Friday, June 26th, the department offers testing by appointment Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (816) 271-4729 to schedule an appointment.