Health District commemorates World AIDS Day, Dec. 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 27, 2013

LAS VEGAS – The annual World AIDS Day is Sun., Dec. 1. In commemoration, the Southern Nevada Health District and its community partners will observe the occasion with free testing at several locations on Mon. Dec. 2. 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.

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.

The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada will display three 12×12 sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Mon-Fri and 10a.m. – 3p.m. Sat., Dec. 1-20. These sections honor Nevadans who have died from AIDS. In addition, AFAN will display its Faces of Courage project alongside the quilt. The Faces of Courage project began in the 1990s as a tribute to people living with HIV/AIDS. Each plaster cast is the face of a Southern Nevadan living with HIV.

The health district’s Sexual Health Clinic will offer free HIV testing at the following locations on Mon. Dec. 2:

Gay & Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada
10:30a-12:30p.1:30p-5p
401 S. Maryland Pkwy
Free rapid HIV tests

Nevada Partners/2013 Community Forum
9a-noon
710 W. Lake Mead Blvd., NLV
Blood test/results in two weeks

Other events include candlelight vigil at UNLV’s AIDS Memorial Garden at 6:30 p.m., Sun. Dec. 1. The Gay & Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada will screen the film, Philadelphia, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.1 million people over the age of 13 are living with HIV infection in the United States and 207,000 of them are not aware they are infected. Several years ago, the CDC recommended that voluntary HIV testing become routine for patients between the ages of 13 and 64.

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 two types of rapid HIV testing that provide same-day results. 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.

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

Weekly HIV and STD testing opportunities are available at the following locations:

Monday – Friday
Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada
Free HIV/STD screenings
10:30a.m. -12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.,
401 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas 89101
(702) 733-9800

Tuesday
Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada
Free HIV, hepatitis B&C screenings/hepatitis A&B vaccinations
714 E. Sahara Ave., Ste. 101, Las Vegas 89104
(702) 369-8700

Tuesday & Wednesday
Richard Steele Boxing Facility
Free HIV testing/STD screenings
2475 W. Cheyenne Ave., Ste. 120, North Las Vegas, 89032
(702) 638-1308

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.