In honor of National HIV Testing Day, Dallas County Health & Human Services (DCHHS) and the Afiya Center are teaming up to encourage people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get into treatment right away if they have HIV. This year’s theme, Doing It My Way, is a call to action that encourages people to get tested for HIV in a way that is comfortable for them.
Free and confidential testing for HIV/STD will take place this Thursday, June 27 at the following locations:
Glendale Park
1515 E. Ledbetter Dr.
Dallas, TX 75215
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
DCHHS-Sexual Health Clinic
2377 N. Stemmons Fwy, #100 (first floor)
Dallas, TX 75207
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1.1 million people in the United States have HIV, and 1 in 7 of them don’t know they have it. People with HIV need to get a diagnosis as soon as possible so they can get treatment. Taking HIV medicine as prescribed can keep them healthy and protect their partners. According to a recent report, nearly 40% of new HIV transmissions in 2016 came from people who didn’t know they had HIV.
CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 gets tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care and those at high risk get tested at least once a year. Some sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing (every 3 to 6 months).
DCHHS health officials are urging Dallas County residents to take advantage of this free opportunity to get tested for HIV.
