CABELL-HUNTINGTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO OFFER
HIV TESTING DAY ON THURSDAY, JUNE 27
Huntington, WV–The Cabell-Huntington Health Department will observe National HIV Testing Day on Thursday, June 27th, by offering free testing between 8:30 AM –3:00 PM. The event will take place at the health department, located at 703 Seventh Avenue. The theme for 2024 is “Level Up Your Self-Love: Check Your Status.” People are encouraged to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment if needed.
HIV testing, includingself-testing, is the pathway to engaging people in care to keep them healthy, regardless of their test results. People who receive a negative test result can take advantage ofHIV preventiontools such aspre-exposure prophylaxis(PrEP),condoms, and other sexual health services such as vaccines and testing for sexually transmitted infections. People who receive a positive test result can rapidly startHIV treatment(antiretroviral therapy,or ART) to stay healthy.
Cabell-Huntington Health Department Prevention Specialist, Michelle Perdue, states, “TheNational HIV/AIDS Strategyand theEnding the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiativecontinue to guide efforts to help us reach all people who can benefit from HIV prevention and care. HIV testing is a critical tool to help us end the HIV epidemic in the United States. HIV medication has seen tremendous strides, and we can quickly link people living with HIV to care. Taking medication every single day can lead to someone being undetectable which means they become untransmittable. HIV no longer must be a death sentence.”
HIV self-testing like, Together Take Me Home, provides free testing to people who do not have easy access to in-person testing services and can reduce stigma for those who may be reluctant to go for an in-person HIV test. For those who wishto test in the privacy of their own home, please click this link. https://together.takemehome.org/
For questions, please call the Cabell-Huntington Health Department at (304) 523-6483.
