HONOLULU — As part of National HIV Testing Day on Saturday the state Department of Health is encouraging individuals to get tested for HIV and learn their HIV status, a state news release says. The DOH is encouraging individuals to
HONOLULU — As part of National HIV Testing Day on Saturday the state Department of Health is encouraging individuals to get tested for HIV and learn their HIV status, a state news release says.
The DOH is encouraging individuals to take advantage of free HIV testing services during the week leading up to National HIV Testing Day and the week after.
For individuals who test positive for HIV, there are excellent care and treatment services available in Hawai‘i. Early HIV diagnosis and access to medical care leads to better treatment outcomes. Those who test HIV negative can learn ways to protect themselves and stay negative.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that everyone from age 13 to 64 have an HIV test,” said Nancy Deeley, HIV testing coordinator for the DOH STD/AIDS Prevention Branch, in the release.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 million Americans are living with HIV and about 25 percent of this total are unaware of their HIV infection. There are an estimated 56,000 new HIV infections in the U.S. each year.
