Sunday, June 27, Marks National HIV Testing Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2010
Contact
Candi Crause, Director
(217) 531-5372 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Sunday, June 27, Marks National HIV Testing Day
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to “Take the Test, Take Control”
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) recognizes Sunday, June 27, as National HIV Testing Day. This is the 17th National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) and this year’s theme is Take the Test, Take Control to encourage everyone to know their status. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than one million people in the United States that are living with HIV. Of those one million people, the CDC estimates one out of five does not know they are infected.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), as of May 31, 2010, there were almost 60,000 HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in Illinois. Of those diagnosed cases:
- 81% were male
- 48% - African American; 35% - Caucasian; 13% - Hispanic
- 67% were between the ages of 25 - 44 years
Illinois has the seventh highest number of AIDS cases in the nation, with more than 41,000 reported cases since 1981. Of those diagnosed with AIDS, approximately 20,000 have died. It is important to get tested and take control because steps can be taken not only in seeking medical care, but to protect the health and wellbeing of yourself and your partner.
CUPHD offers testing to anyone who is 12 years of age or older and recommends testing for:
- Men who have unprotected sex with other men
- Anyone who injects drugs and shares needles or works with others
- Anyone who has unprotected sex with an injection drug user or a man who has sex with other men
- Anyone who has a sexually transmitted disease
- Anyone who exchanges sex for money or drugs
Upcoming CUPHD events include HIV testing at the University of Illinois’ LGBT Resource Center on Tuesday, June 29, from 4 – 7 PM. CUPHD offers testing through community events, mobile outreach, and by appointment during clinic hours; Tuesdays, 1-5 PM; Thursdays, 9-11 AM and 1-3 PM.
For more information on HIV testing or to schedule an appointment, please call the CUPHD Division of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at 217-239-7827 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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