Home/Health District Community Partners Commemorate 23Rd World AIDS Day

Health District, community partners


commemorate 23rd World AIDS Day, Dec. 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 29, 2011

LAS VEGAS – The 23rd World AIDS Day is Thursday, Dec. 1 and the Southern Nevada Health District and its community partners will observe the occasion with free testing at several locations. For more information, contact the Southern Nevada Health District Office of HIV/AIDS, (702) 759-0702 or visit www.SNHD.INFO. This year’s theme for World AIDS Day is “It Takes a Village to Fight AIDS” as global leaders pledge to work towards access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care.

In Clark County, more than 9,000 Southern Nevadans have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS with more than 3,000 deaths from the illness since 1992. More than 3,000 Southern Nevadans are living with HIV and there are more than 2,800 AIDS cases locally. A study by UNAIDS, a joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS, noted that approximately 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 9 ½ minutes another person in the Unites States is infected with HIV which translates into 56,300 new infections annually. Four years ago, the CDC recommended that voluntary HIV testing become routine for patients between the ages of 13 and 64. The agency estimates that more than one million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS, a fifth of whom are unaware of their infection.

HIV/AIDS still impacts gay and bisexual men, however, infection rates among African-Americans and Hispanics continue to rise nationwide. African-Americans constitute nearly half of new HIV infections and people living with HIV; black women are 15 times more likely than white women to become infected with HIV. Hispanics make up 17 percent of newly infected individuals and they are 18 percent of people living with HIV.

World AIDS Day was adopted in 1988 by representatives of 140 countries at the World Summit of Ministers of Health on AIDS. The day serves as an opportunity for governments, non-governmental and local organizations, AIDS programs and individuals to increase awareness and demonstrate solidarity in the fight against AIDS.

In addition to the traditional blood test, the Southern Nevada Health District offers the OraSure HIV-1 oral fluid test that does not use needles. In addition, two types of rapid HIV testing that provide same-day results are available. Both rapid tests are $25 and are administered Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and noon. All HIV testing at the health district is confidential and is available inside the main location at 625 Shadow Lane. There is a separate entrance to ensure clients’ privacy.

In addition to testing, the Southern Nevada Health District’s HIV/AIDS program includes counseling, case management, outreach efforts and community referrals.

The Southern Nevada Health District will be offering free HIV testing at the following locations in observance of World AIDS Day, Thursday, Dec. 1.

Southern Nevada Health District
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
625 Shadow Lane, Annex A, Las Vegas
(702) 759-0702

Gay & Lesbian Center (inside Commercial Center)
1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
HIV testing/STD screenings
953 E. Sahara Ave., Ste. B-2-25, Las Vegas
(702) 733-9800

Nevada Partners
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
710 W. Lake Mead Blvd., North Las Vegas
(702) 633-5632

Community activities for World AIDS Day include:

ActionRED (inside Emergency Arts)
Open House, AIDS Memorial Quilt, Art Auction
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
520 E. Fremont St., Las Vegas

Fallen Guardian Angels/Golden Rainbow Benefit
West Charleston Library
AIDS Quilt Display
6301 W. Charleston Blvd/CSN Campus
Doors open 7:05 p.m.

Candlelight Vigil of Hope
Metropolitan Community Church and Conciencia
1140 Almond Tree Lane (Sahara & Maryland)
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. this event is in Spanish
www.mcclv.com

Piggy Herding and Open House
AFAN
1120 Almond Tree Lane (Sahara & Maryland)
noon – 4 p.m.
(702) 382-AFAN (2326)
www.afanlv.org

Life’s a Ball/Nevada AIDS Project
Club Nikki at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino
3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South
7 p.m. – midnight

AIDS Memorial Ceremony/Candlelight Vigil
Students United for Reproductive Justice
AIDS Memorial Garden
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy.
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Updated information about the Southern Nevada Health District can be found on Facebook www.facebook.com/SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict, on YouTube www.youtube.com/SNHealthDistrict or Twitter www.twitter.com/SNHDinfo The health district is now available in Spanish on Twitter www.twitter.com/TuSNHD. To follow the health district on Twitter, text 40404 to @SNHDinfo.

Visit the Media Contacts webpage for media related inquiries.

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The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2018-08-02T09:55:47-07:00
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