[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Events Planned in Recognition of National HIV Testing Day

[Press Releases]

For Immediate Release
June 22, 2010
 
Dana Hughes, MPH, HIV Health Educator
573.874.6331 or dnhughes at GoColumbiaMo.com 
 
National HIV Testing Day
Health Department Partners with Rain to Offer Free Testing Throughout
Community
 
In Recognition of National HIV Testing Day (June 27, 2010), the
Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health & Human Services,
along with Rain, will be offering free rapid HIV tests at various times
and locations. All testing is free and open to anyone on a walk-in
basis.
                Wednesday, June 23, 2010 both organizations will offer
testing at the University of Missouri from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Testing
will be offered at the Social Justice Center in Memorial Union and at
the Student Health Center. 

 Sunday, June 27, 2010 Rain will offer HIV testing at Courthouse Square
in downtown Columbia in conjunction with their 17th Annual Salute to
Life Walk. Testing and walk registration will begin at noon. The Salute
to Life Walk begins at 1:30 pm. For more information on this event visit
www.missourirain.org.

 Monday, June 28, 2010 the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public
Health & Human Services will offer HIV testing in Douglass Park from
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. 

 
Every 9 ½ minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV.
Early HIV diagnosis is critical, so people who are infected can fully
benefit from available life-saving treatments. That person could be
you—or someone you know—your brother, sister, father, mother, friend,
co-worker, or neighbor. Of the more than 1 million Americans now
estimated to be living with HIV, one-quarter do not realize they are
infected. As a result, they do not receive medical care that could help
them live longer, fuller lives.
 
Finding out whether you are infected with HIV is the first step to
improving your health and the health of your partners and your family.
On National HIV Testing Day, Columbia citizens and members of
surrounding communities can obtain a potentially life-extending piece of
information: their HIV test result.
 
For more information about HIV testing please contact Dana Hughes at
573-874-6331. A PSA produced by the CDC is available online at
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=2007484 
 
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