World AIDS Day, December 1
Health District launches Collect2Protect online STD/HIV Testing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 1, 2020
LAS VEGAS – On the 32nd World AIDS Day, the Southern Nevada Health District is launching its Collect2Protect online HIV/STD at-home testing kit program as part of its efforts to strengthen the community’s HIV/STD services. Collect2Protect is tool to assist with this year’s theme Ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic: Resilience and Impact. For information about the program, visit the Collect2Protect webpage: www.snhd.info/c2p.
Anyone who is interested in getting tested for HIV can visit the Collect2Protect page to order test kits. The at-home HIV kits are free and allow individuals to receive their results in their home. At-home test kits for gonorrhea and chlamydia are also available. Visit the Collect2Protect site for fee information.
Since World AIDS Day 2019, Nevada received Ending the HIV Epidemic grant due to its continued increase in new HIV diagnoses and the number of people living with HIV. In Clark County, there are approximately 10,100 people living with HIV and 448 of them were newly diagnosed. As part of this funding, the Health District will focus on four areas with efforts to:
- Diagnose all people with HIV as early as possible.
- Treat people with HIV rapidly and effectively to reach sustained viral suppression.
- Prevent new HIV transmissions by using proven interventions, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and syringe services programs (SSPs).
- Respond quickly to potential HIV outbreaks to get prevention and treatment services to people who need them.
The Health District encourages everyone to get tested and to learn their HIV status. Early diagnosis is critical for people with HIV so that they can benefit from antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART reduces HIV levels in the bloodstream, reduces HIV-related illnesses, and lowers the risk of transmitting HIV to intimate partners. With ART, HIV-positive people can remain healthy for many years.
People who get tested and learn they are HIV negative can make decisions about their risk factors and health care. Those who are at high risk for HIV infection can discuss pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with their health care providers to reduce their risk of infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information about PrEP on its website. For more information, visit Ending the HIV Epidemic.
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.