HOUSTON – The Houston Health Department (HHD) and 97.9 The Box will offer free HIV and hepatitis C tests at a three-day screening event organized to observe National HIV Testing Day.
The event, set from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 27-29 at Walgreens, 5200 Westheimer, will reward participants with a ticket to the Dub Car Show, the nation’s largest custom car show tour that features a variety of Grammy and Billboard Music Awards recognized artists. Each day the first 100 participants will receive tickets to the July 15 car show; tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis for people who test and receive their results.
“Knowing your HIV status is a vital step in taking control of your sexual health and life,” said Marlene McNeese, HHD’s bureau chief of HIV/STD and Viral Hepatitis Prevention. “When people are diagnosed, they have the opportunity to manage the virus with early intervention and treatment.”
It may come as a surprise to know that you could be surrounded by people who are unaware that they are living with this disease, as well as potentially others. In the state of California, 2018 rates revealed 5,891 new cases of syphilis for instance. It can most likely be passed between people who share needles when taking recreational drugs, or you may have the disease if you have medical conditions such as HIV or AIDS. That’s why attending events like this, as well as your local healthcare clinic to have Hep C testing could help you to start treatment as early as possible so it doesn’t have the chance to get worse.
Event participants will also receive education about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP, daily medication that reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 percent.
National HIV Testing Day is observed annually on June 27.
Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS, a leading national public information response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic, are working with 220 health departments, AIDS service organizations and other community organizations to help provide free HIV testing and information at participating Walgreens stores in more than 180 cities.
National HIV Testing Day began in 1995 to encourage everyone, particularly young adults, to get tested for HIV. It became the first national testing initiative after the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 80s. Houston ranks 12th in the nation among cities with new diagnoses. Testing makes more people aware of their status and helps them plan for their personal treatment and prevention strategy.
HHD’s strategies to reduce the number of new HIV infections include re-linking people living with HIV to treatment and other ancillary services to ensure they remain in care and educating people at risk for HIV about the benefits of adding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in their personal prevention plan.
HHD Health Center Locations: houstonhealth.org
Walgreens Healthcare Clinic Locations: https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/healthcare-clinic.jsp
Media Contact:
Porfirio Villarreal
Office: 832.393.5041
Mobile: 832.393.5041
[email protected]
Scott Packard
Office: 832.393.5045
Mobile: 281.254.6403
[email protected]