June 27 is National HIV Testing Day. In Los Angeles County, a whole week is dedicated to offering free HIV testing. During the week of June 25 – July 2, 2012 residents can find free HIV testing available throughout the county.
This year, Erase Doubt is teaming up with Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS, a national HIV awareness and prevention campaign, to offer free testing at select Walgreens locations from June 27-June 29. The full list of HIV testing events in L.A. County can be found at www.erasedoubt.org.
“Los Angeles County is honored to collaborate with Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS to encourage Angelenos to learn their HIV status and take control of their health,” said Mario J. Perez, Director of the Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health, Division of HIV and STD Programs. “New studies tell us that over 30 percent of people with HIV are not diagnosed until they are within a year of an AIDS diagnosis. Early HIV diagnosis is critical in order to fully benefit from available life-saving treatments, thereby staving off an AIDS diagnosis. Our message is simple: Erase your doubt. Get tested. Get treated. It’s free.”
Los Angeles County encourages residents to get tested for HIV through its Erase Doubt awareness campaign at www.erasedoubt.org. The initiative drives awareness of HIV prevention and provides information about HIV/AIDS care and treatment resources, including HIV testing locations throughout the county. The campaign’s signature red ribbon is in the form of a question mark (indicating doubt or questions regarding HIV) and an arrow (indicating the way to find answers). The logo serves as a reminder that an HIV test is the only way to erase doubt.
Source: Erase Doubt, USA