GAINESVILLE – Each year public health observes National HIV Testing Day, to emphasize and encourage HIV testing. The theme for this year is “HIV Testing is Self-care.” All District 2 Public Health departments will participate in the observance by offering free HIV testing on June 27. District spokesperson Natasha Young says the testing is fast and confidential.
“Anyone ages 13 to 64 years old should get tested at least once in their life,” she says.
According to the CDC, the number of new HIV diagnoses was highest among people aged 25 to 34 years old.
Knowledge of status is one of the six ways to Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE). Once a person is diagnosed, they can take steps to manage their viral load and become undetectable with medication, effectively reducing their chance of spreading HIV to their sex partner. By the year 2030, the EHE initiative aims to reduce new HIV infections in the U.S. by 90 percent.
“Taking the test is taking care of you. District 2 Public Health encourages you to talk to your partners and friends about getting tested for HIV,” says Young. She adds, “The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested.”
To find a health department in a District 2 county visit phdistrict2.org.
For more information about HIV go to cdc.gov/hiv.
