National HIV Testing Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2016
Contact
Candi Crause,Director of Infectious Disease Prevention & Management
(217) 531-5372 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
National HIV Testing Day
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to “Take the Test, Take Control”
Champaign, IL – National HIV Testing Day is Monday, June 27, 2016 and the
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages everyone to get tested.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 1.2 million people in the United States that are living with HIV. Because of effective treatments, people are living long and healthy lives with HIV. But it important to start treatment as soon as a person finds out that they have HIV. If you are living with HIV or know someone who is, you can contact CUPHD at 217-531-5368 and speak to Gary for more information.
It is estimated by the CDC that there are 50,000 new HIV infections each year in the United States. Almost one in seven people are unaware of their infection. Over half of young people between the ages of 13-24 living with HIV are unaware of their infection. On average, 1,800 people are diagnosed with HIV in Illinois each year. CUPHD provides testing services Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. Home HIV testing kits can be purchased at Walgreens as well.
CUPHD is offering a new prevention option, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP is for people who are HIV negative, but who are at risk of HIV infection. According to the CDC, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people by over 90 percent. For more information on PrEP, please call Louise at 217-531-5365.
This year, CUPHD is partnering with Walgreens, Uniting Pride (UP Center), and the Greater Community AIDS Project (GCAP) to promote HIV Testing. Testing and information about community resources will be available from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the parking lot of the Walgreens store at the intersection of Prospect and Bloomington Road in Champaign.
For more information, contact the Infectious Disease division at 217-531-5365.