In honor of National HIV Testing Day, June 27th, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) will be providing free walk-in HIV testing.
Health officials say everyone should know their status.
“We’re offering free walk in HIV testing all this week.”
April Hight, is the Kent County Health Department Program Supervisor. She says in honor of National HIV Testing Day, June 27th, they’re offering free testing through Friday. The testing takes place at the main clinic on Fuller NE.
The Centers for Disease Control says more than one million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. Hight says along with the CDC, the Kent County Health Department also recommends that everyone know their status.
“The CDC has a stat that one in 8 people who are infected don’t know it. And so, there’s a lot that are infected and don’t know, and won’t know it unless they get a test, because a lot of times there are no symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to get tested.”
Hight says on average, Kent County sees about 40 new cases of HIV per year. So Hight says in addition to the testing, they also talk about risk factors.
“When they come to the appointment we’ll talk about risk factors and ways they can protect themselves, condoms for sure, but other things as well just so people can lower their risk.”
Hight adds they’ll be adding a new service later this summer. It’s called PREP. It’s a medicine that a person who is at risk for HIV infection can take to help prevent the transmission of HIV.
Meantime, if you can’t make the free testing this week, Hight says you can still be tested. You can call and make an appointment at 616-632-7171.
