Snohomish Health District, is supporting National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, by offering free HIV tests today, Tuesday and Wednesday. It is your chance to get tested. Usually this will cost $89.
Following is the press release;
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. ---
Snohomish Health District will support National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by offering prevention information and free anonymous or confidential HIV tests on three days in March to qualifying women and girls age 14 years and older who are at risk for HIV infection. The rapid HIV antibody test, adopted in 2004 by the Health District, requires only a drop of blood pricked from a finger. Test results are available within 20 minutes. No appointment necessary; no ID required.
Health educators will offer rapid HIV antibody testing at these sites and times:
�� March 8, 5 to 7 p.m. – Lynnwood: Snohomish Health District, 6101 200th SW, Ste 100
�� March 9, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Everett: Snohomish Health District, 3020 Rucker Ave, Ste 106
�� March 10, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Everett: Snohomish Health District, 3020 Rucker Ave, Ste 106
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) is a nationwide initiative celebrated on March 10 every year to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. About one-third of all newly detected HIV cases progress to full-blown AIDS within 12 months of initial HIV diagnosis. This indicates that individuals are not getting tested regularly as a part of their normal health care. Instead they are waiting until they experience health problems, by which time the disease can be more difficult to treat. The awareness campaign is an effort to help women and girls know their HIV status.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Washington State Department of Health report:
�� Every 35 minutes a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States.
�� About 40 people test positive for HIV/AIDS every year in Snohomish County.
�� More than 640 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Snohomish County.
�� Having unprotected sex is the main way HIV spreads. It also spreads through injection drug use or from mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
�� Today, about one in four Americans living with HIV is a woman.
�� HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women age 25 to 34.
During a standard week, the Health District offers rapid tests, oral swab, and standard blood draw tests by appointment Monday through Friday. Tests cost $89 for everyone except high-risk persons—they are tested for free. Appointments: 425.339.5298. High-risk individuals include men who have sex with men (MSM), IV drug users (IDU), and persons who have sex with MSM or IDU.
The Health District also offers walk-in (no appointment) rapid HIV antibody testing routinely at these sites:
• All Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Everett: Snohomish Health District 3020 Rucker Ave, Ste 106
• 1st Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Everett: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2624 Rockefeller Ave
• 2nd and 4th Mondays, 5 to 7 p.m. – Lynnwood: Snohomish Health District, 6101 200th SW, Ste 100
Incorporated in 1959, the Snohomish Health District works for a safer and healthier community through disease prevention, health promotion, and protection from environmental threats. Find more information about the Health District at www.snohd.org.
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