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Take Charge, Get Tested on June 27! |
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In honor of National HIV Testing Day on Wednesday, June 27, AIDS Project Rhode Island
will offer free, rapid HIV testing at two locations in Providence.
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(Providence, RI; June 20, 2018)–In honor of National HIV Testing Day on Wednesday, June 27, AIDS Project Rhode Island (APRI) is proud to announce that we will offer free, rapid HIV testing to everyone in the community at two locations:
APRI staff will be on hand at both locations to conduct free, rapid HIV tests (a simple oral swab with results in 20 minutes), answer questions about testing and sexual health, and to provide referrals for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), additional health care services, and more. For testing in Olneyville, APRI is partnering with Walgreens and Greater then AIDS, a leading national public information response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In addition, APRI is proud to announce that Providence City Councilmember Nirva LaFortune, who represents Ward 3-in which APRI’s main office is located-will join us at Pleasant Street on June 27 to get her own rapid HIV test, helping raise awareness in the community about how easy the process is and why it’s so important.
It is currently estimated that 1 in 7 individuals (15%) who has HIV does not know it. Getting a HIV test is recommended for anyone who is sexually active. If a person tests positive and is linked to care quickly, takes their medication as prescribed, and achieves an undetectable viral level they cannot pass the virus to a partner. In addition, a person who is HIV-negative may be a candidate for PrEP, a medicine taken as one pill a day that is up to 99% effective in stopping HIV transmission.
“Testing has always been a cornerstone of the services we provide,” APRI Executive Director Stephen Hourahan says. “HIV testing has never been easier-or quicker. We know we can end new HIV infections and ensure that people with HIV live long, healthy lives. National HIV Testing Day helps us remind everyone not that HIV is still with us but that it’s preventable and also manageable.”
“Even if you have not recently put yourself at risk, HIV testing is important for your health and relationships and should be a part of your sexual health habits,” LaFortune adds. “The only way to take charge is to know.”
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