Source: Mario Tama / Getty
The county health agency joins forces today with a local organization known for fighting in the trenches for social and economic equality to provide free health services to the Indianapolis community to stem a rising epidemic. The Marion County Public Health Department’s Substance Use Outreach Services Program and the Indianapolis Urban League are hosting free HIV testing and encourage you to take the test to take control of your health Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
In observance of National HIV Testing Day–the annual day set aside every June 27 to encourage testing for the disease to improve health outcomes and quality of life in those who are infected with the disease that causes AIDS–the organizations will provide free HIV testing and a little bit of fun too on the city’s east side. They will be at the corner of 38th and Oxford Streets at 3901 North Oxford Street. Organizers say you can expect a fun-filled day of music, fun, pizza and prizes today in Indy leading into tomorrow’s national observance.
Around one in eight Americans who are infected with HIV aren’t aware of it. That’s according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention out today, leading into National HIV Testing Day. This means over 1.2-million Americans are currently living with HIV, and of those, over 150,000 don’t realize it. The study’s results and the yearly observance come at a time that’s more critical here in Indiana due to an HIV outbreak which now has around 170 new victims in the last few months, mainly tracked to intravenous drug use and the sharing of needles in southern Indiana. Four people have been arrested this week on drug charges in relation to the outbreak. A needle exchange program has been approved in the short term to prevent new infections and stem the growth of this outbreak and prevent another that could result from a Hepititis C outbreak declared as a health emergency to our north in Madison County where the city of Anderson is located.
Indianapolis is > AIDS. Get tested. Know your status. Organizers and volunteers are waiting to serve you at today’s event in Indy or call 317-221-TEST to find other convenient testing locations and hours of operation.
###(@kwellscomm)###
kimwellsmedia 062615
@PraiseIndy
