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State health officials will observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Feb. 7 by offering free confidential HIV testing at the Marshall Memorial Student Center on the campus of Marshall University and at the Kanawha Institute for Research and Action (KISRA) office located at 131 Perkins Ave., Dunbar. Both screenings are from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeting African Americans. The one-day event has focal points targeting education, testing, involvement and treatment.
In West Virginia, the non-Hispanic Black population accounts for 62,122 residents or 3.4 percent of the total population. Cumulative data from 1984 through 2011 indicates that African Americans represented 26 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases in the state.
The DHHR’s office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services Director Dr. Loretta Haddy said, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a great opportunity for the state and their community parnters to reach out to African Americans offering free, confidential HIV testing with results available onsite in about 20 minutes.”
Dr. Haddy noted, “HIV and AIDS caseas are preventable. Prevention begins with education and testing. This outreach effort is indicative of the importance of knowing one’s HIV status and teaches us how to prevent the spread of disease.”
Both screenings and educational events are collaborative outreach efforts of the DHHR, Ebenezer Medical Outreach, Center for African American Students Program, Theta Omega Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and KISRA. To learn more about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day, including the free HIV testing, go online to www.hiv.wv.gov or contact HIV Prevention Specalist Nils Haynes at 1-800-423-1271.
State health officials will observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Feb. 7 by offering free confidential HIV testing at the Marshall Memorial Student Center on the campus of Marshall University and at the Kanawha Institute for Research and Action (KISRA) office located at 131 Perkins Ave., Dunbar. Both screenings are from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeting African Americans. The one-day event has focal points targeting education, testing, involvement and treatment.
In West Virginia, the non-Hispanic Black population accounts for 62,122 residents or 3.4 percent of the total population. Cumulative data from 1984 through 2011 indicates that African Americans represented 26 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases in the state.
The DHHR’s office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services Director Dr. Loretta Haddy said, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a great opportunity for the state and their community parnters to reach out to African Americans offering free, confidential HIV testing with results available onsite in about 20 minutes.”
Dr. Haddy noted, “HIV and AIDS caseas are preventable. Prevention begins with education and testing. This outreach effort is indicative of the importance of knowing one’s HIV status and teaches us how to prevent the spread of disease.”
Both screenings and educational events are collaborative outreach efforts of the DHHR, Ebenezer Medical Outreach, Center for African American Students Program, Theta Omega Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and KISRA. To learn more about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day, including the free HIV testing, go online to www.hiv.wv.gov or contact HIV Prevention Specalist Nils Haynes at 1-800-423-1271.
