Health District commemorates 24th World AIDS Day, Dec. 1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 29, 2012
LAS VEGAS – The 24th World AIDS Day is Saturday, 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 Sexual Health Clinic (702) 759-0702 or visit www.SNHD.INFO for additional testing sites. The theme for World AIDS Day is “Getting to Zero:” zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination affecting people with HIV and/or AIDS.
This year, the health district is partnering with Walgreens Pharmacy as a testing site for the first time in support of World AIDS Day efforts to educate the community about prevention, to remove the stigma still associated with HIV/AIDS, and offer testing. Health district staff will provide free HIV testing between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1 at the following Walgreen’s locations:
- Walgreens: 4905 W. Tropicana Ave, LV, NV 89103 (702-889-0922)
- Walgreens: 4470 E. Bonanza Rd., LV NV, 89110 (702-531-8006)
In addition, staff will provide free HIV and syphilis testing at Charlie’s Bar, 5012 Arville St #4 between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.
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 3,5,00 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.
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 at the Sexual Health Clinic, 400 Shadow Lane, Suite 106. An administrative fee of $10 is collected for all testing, however, the health district does not deny testing to anyone based on their inability to pay.
In addition to testing, the Southern Nevada Health District’s HIV/AIDS program includes counseling, case management, outreach efforts and community referrals.
Each week, HIV and STD testing are available at the following locations:
Mondays & Thursdays:
Gay & Lesbian Center (inside Commercial Center)
1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., HIV testing/STD screenings, hepatitis A/B vaccines
953 E. Sahara Ave., Ste. B-31, Las Vegas
(702) 733-9800
Tuesdays & Wednesdays:
Richard Steele Boxing Facility
1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Free HIV testing/STD screenings
2475 W. Cheyenne Ave., Ste. 120 North Las Vegas, 89032 (702) 638-1311 or (702) 759-0707
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. Don’t have a Twitter account? Follow the health district on your phone by texting “follow SNHDinfo” to 40404.
Visit the Media Contacts webpage for media related inquiries.
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.