CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Linn County Public Health (LCPH) is offering free HIV testing for anyone wishing to know their HIV status on Thursday, December 1st from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm in recognition of World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day, recognized on December 1st, provides an opportunity for individuals and organizations worldwide to unite in an effort to raise awareness of AIDS caused by the spread of HIV infection, to show support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and to honor the memories of those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. Almost half of new HIV infections are transmitted by people who do not know they are infected. Pramod Dwivedi, Director of Linn County Public Health, encourages residents to know their HIV status. “Although there have been advances in reducing the transmission of HIV infections, there’s much more work to be done. The only way to know for sure whether or not you have HIV is to get tested and by knowing your status you can keep yourself and others healthy.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates more than 1.2 million people in the US are living with HIV, and one in eight of those infected are unaware that they have the virus. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. People who are at a high risk for HIV infection should get tested every 3 to 6 months.
LCPH is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm at 501 13th Street NW, Cedar Rapids. LCPH provides testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV. Testing is free for those who qualify; low cost testing is available for those who do not meet the qualifications for free testing services. LCPH is happy to bill insurance or accept cash payment for services that are not free. All HIV and STI testing is confidential. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call LCPH at (319) 892-6093.
To learn more about the benefits of HIV testing, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html
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ABOUT LINN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH:
Linn County Public Health serves nearly 215,000 residents of Linn County to prevent disease and injury, promote healthy living, protect the environment, and ensure public health preparedness. More information about Linn County Public Health is available online at http://www.linncounty.org/health or by calling 319-892-6000. Follow Linn County Public Health on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LCPublicHealth and on Twitter @LCPublicHealth.