Memphis Health Center, Inc., (MHC), Inc. & Cocaine Alcohol Awareness Program, Inc., (CAAP), JOINS IN THE WORLDWIDE OBSERVATION OF NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY, JUNE 27, 2013

National HIV Testing Day is held every year on June 27th. It is an opportunity for communities to join together to help raise awareness about the critical need to break the silence on HIV prevention and testing. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV is a crisis in African American communities, threatening the health and well-being of African American men and women across the United States. Still today, African American heterosexual women continue to be far more affected by HIV than women of any other race or ethnicity, and young black gay and bisexual men now account for more new infections than any other group in the United States. We cannot allow this crisis to continue.

Memphis Health Center, Inc. (MHC) will be the host site for a partnered HIV testing event with CAAP, Inc. on Thursday, June 27, 2013 from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm at 360 E. H. Crump Blvd, free refreshments and gifts for everyone tested will be available while supplies last. MHC welcomes the opportunity to partner with CAAP, Inc. to provide HIV testing to the community. “Knowledge is power and we want everyone to know their status as early as possible to save lives.” “It is our goal to continue offering HIV testing to our patients and the community at large as a part of our comprehensive service model”, says Willeen W. Hastings, Chief Executive Officer of MHC. Albert Richardson, Executive Director of CAAP, Inc. echoes Ms. Hastings and adds “that by partnering with MHC on this event is a deliberate act of collaboration with an organization that has been a stable resource in the community”. “The connection between HIV, substance abuse and alcohol makes individuals more susceptible to contracting HIV and they are more likely to see the disease progress than those who do not drink or use illicit drugs.”

HIV testing is really important not only for the individual but also for the community, but the first step is asking for the test. We are hopeful that by continuing to bring attention to HIV and addressing the problem, we move one step closer to finding lasting, comprehensive solutions.
Although June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, we see every day as HIV testing day. TAKE THE TEST, TAKE CONTROL.

Source: http://www.memphishealthcenter.org/blog/?p=336

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