SAN DIEGO–The Faith-Based Working Group (FBWG) of the Kemet Coalition will be hosting a National HIV Testing Day event on June 24.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Rite Aid Pharmacy at 1735 Euclid Ave. in San Diego. Along with HIV testing, the event will provide advocacy, education, prevention and awareness of HIV/AIDS in San Diego County.
There are more than one million people in the United States living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS; however, one out of every four do not know that they are HIV-infected. Could you be one of them? The only way to know is to get tested.
• In San Diego African Americans make up five percent of the population but account for almost 13% of all new HIV infections.
• The presence of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) greatly increases a person’s likelihood of acquiring or transmitting HIV.
This event is a collaborative effort involving various community-based organizations throughout San Diego County. Participating agencies include: the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Christie’s Place, Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Ysidro Health Center – Our Place, Planned Parenthood and many other community agencies.
The Faith-Based Working Group is encouraging everyone to get tested for HIV on June 24. If a person is HIV-positive and isn’t aware of their status, they could unknowingly pass the virus to others. But, if a person is HIV-positive and is aware of it, spreading the virus to others can be prevented. While there is no cure for HIV, medications are available to help individuals living with HIV live healthy lives.
Free confidential HIV testing will be provided, courtesy of the County of San Diego and San Ysidro Health Center. The Rapid HIV Test detects whether or not a person has been infected with the HIV virus by way of an oral sample; test results are produced within twenty minutes. No blood draws or needles are required for rapid tests. For HIV testing sites near you, visit www.hivtest.org.
For more information on the Faith-Based Working Group’s National HIV Testing Day event, contact Ken Riley at (619) 299-0536 or kjriley3@cox.net.
