Friday June 16, 2006 SGN.org |
 |
Volume 34 Issue 24 |
 |
|
Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
|
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
 |
 |
Snohomish Health District branches out for National HIV Testing Day |
|
 |
|
| Snohomish Health District branches out for National HIV Testing Day | |
| June 27th, 2006 is the eleventh annual National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) in the United States. In its annual campaign, the National Association of People with AIDS sponsors NHTD to encourage at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing. The Snohomish Health District (SHD) staff in Everett, WA, have decided to take that message beyond the walls of their HIV/STD Clinic and into the Everett community at large.
Currently anyone can come into the SHD clinic and receive an HIV test, which measures the level of HIV antibodies in the body-not the virus itselfvia one of three different methods: standard blood draw, oral swab, or rapid finger prick. Standard blood draw and oral swab tests must be sent to an external lab and produces results in five to seven business days. However, the rapid finger prick HIV test produces reliable results within 20 minutes. Each testing session lasts approximately 30 minutes where the test and the results are produced in the same room. Normally the cost for each test varies by population. For example, intravenous drug users, men who have sex with other men, and individuals who have sex with these two populations can qualify for free testing while other populations may have to pay a nominal fee. For June 27th, Health District staff is expanding its testing services to provide free Rapid HIV tests to Snohomish County residents with any demonstrated risk. During National HIV Testing Day, on a first come, first served basis, testing is being offered at two sites: (1) the SHD clinic located at 3020 Rucker Avenue, Suite 106, or (2) in the Student Union Building of the Everett Community College at 2000 Tower Street. Testing at the SHD clinic will be available from 11:00 am - 7:30 pm, while testing at EvCC begins at 10:00 am and continues to 3:30 pm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 180,000 to 280,000 people nationwide are HIV-positive but are unaware of their status. It is difficult to stop, or even slow down, the transmission of HIV when so many people are unaware of the role they play in the life of the virus. Even in 2006, many individuals believe that HIV or AIDS are "Gay" diseases. Groups in our society are beginning to realize, however, that the virus that causes AIDS doesn't discriminate. The statistics are sobering: o 50% of all new HIV infections in the United States are among people under the age of 25, and teenage girls account for 54% of new AIDS cases1 o While African-Americans represent 12% of the U.S. population, they account for more than half (54%) of the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections each year in the U.S.2 o Latinos represent only 14% of the U.S. population, yet they accounted for 19% of the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections each year3 o An estimated 30% of new HIV infections are found in women, three-quarters of new HIV infections are due to heterosexual sex4 For additional information on Snohomish Health District HIV or STD testing services, call 425-339-5298 or visit http://www.snohd.org/. For more information on National HIV Testing Day, visit the website at: http://www.napwa.org/hivtestinfo/ SOURCES 1. CDC, Fact Sheet: Young People at Risk - HIV/AIDS Among America's Youth, 2002. 2. CDC, HIV/AIDS Update: A Glance at the Epidemic,February 2002. 3. Kaiser Family Foundation, Key Facts: African Americans and HIV/AIDS,September 2003. 4. CDC, A Glance at the Epidemic,2002. A Snohomish Health District press release |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
International Readers |
  It's new! A blog created by the SGN staff so you can be heard |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
working for the freedom to
|
copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2006