LIHU‘E — One in three Asians and Pacific Islanders have HIV and don’t know it, according to statistics from Malama Pono – Health Services. In an effort to encourage men in those groups to get tested (many don’t for fear
LIHU‘E — One in three Asians and Pacific Islanders have HIV and don’t know it, according to statistics from Malama Pono – Health Services.
In an effort to encourage men in those groups to get tested (many don’t for fear of rejection by family or community if they test positive), Malama Pono is offering free HIV and hepatitis B and C testing on Wednesday.
That is National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and free refreshments as well as the testing are being offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Malama Pono office at 4357 Rice St., Suite 101, next to City Liquor.
Malama Pono is Kaua‘i’s only HIV/AIDS service organization, and is hosting an open house in addition to offering the free testing Wednesday.
More than two-thirds of Asians and over half of Pacific Islanders have never been tested, and new HIV infections more than doubled for young Asian/Pacific Islander men who had sex with other men between 2001 and 2006, the release states.
Further, many islanders know little about how HIV is transmitted or how to protect themselves from getting HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases, or how to care for loved ones who are infected, the release states.
The free testing is available with support from The Life Foundation (www.lifefoundation.org) and The Banyan Tree Project (www.banyantreeproject.org).
For more information or to schedule an interview, see www.malama-pono.org or call Bianka Tasaka, at 246-9577.
