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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">1005 W. Worley St. <br />Columbia, MO 65203</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">August 2, 2021</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Sara Humm
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
<br />573.874.7632
<br />Sara.Humm@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services to offer free at-home HIV testing kits</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - In partnership with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) will offer free at-home HIV testing kits.<br /><br />The kits can be ordered online at <a href="https://www.showmecondoms.org/hiv-at-home-testing" target="_blank">ShowMeCondoms.org/HIV-at-Home-Testing</a>. Anyone within the 37-county HIV care region is eligible to have a testing kit shipped to them from PHHS. <br /><br />An individual may complete the test by using an oral swab and results are available within 20 minutes. Those interested may also request a telehealth visit with a PHHS health educator to help virtually walk them through the testing process. <br /><br />HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. There is currently no effective cure
for HIV, but with proper medical care, the virus can become undetectable. If the virus is undetectable, it does not transmit to others. An individual is considered at higher risk of HIV if they: <br />
<ul>
<li>Don’t always use condoms/barriers.</li>
<li>Had or currently have a sexually transmitted infection (STI).</li>
<li>Have sexual partner(s) who don’t know their HIV status.</li>
<li>Use injection drugs. </li>
</ul>
<br />Ending the HIV epidemic is a national initiative to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the U.S. by 75% by 2025, and then by at least 90% by 2030. In that plan, Missouri was identified as a high-priority state in which HIV transmission occurs frequently.<br /><br />The 37 county region includes: <br />
<ul>
<li>Adair</li>
<li>Audrain</li>
<li>Bates</li>
<li>Benton</li>
<li>Boone</li>
<li>Callaway</li>
<li>Camden</li>
<li>Chariton</li>
<li>Clark</li>
<li>Cole</li>
<li>Cooper</li>
<li>Gasconade</li>
<li>Henry</li>
<li>Howard</li>
<li>Johnson</li>
<li>Knox</li>
<li>Lewis</li>
<li>Linn</li>
<li>Macon</li>
<li>Maries</li>
<li>Marion</li>
<li>Miller</li>
<li>Moniteau</li>
<li>Monroe</li>
<li>Montgomery</li>
<li>Morgan</li>
<li>Osage</li>
<li>Pettis</li>
<li>Pike</li>
<li>Putnam</li>
<li>Ralls</li>
<li>Randolph</li>
<li>Saline</li>
<li>Schuyler</li>
<li>Scotland</li>
<li>Shelby</li>
<li>Sullivan</li>
</ul>
<br />Anyone with questions regarding the at-home HIV testing kits may email <a href="mailto: SexualHealth@CoMo.gov">SexualHealth@CoMo.gov</a>. </div>
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<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
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