KNOWING YOUR HIV STATUS IS EMPOWERING HAVE YOU BEEN TESTED?

DOVER (June 23, 2014) - June 27, 2014 marks the 19th annual National HIV Testing Day. The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) urges every Delawarean age 15 to 65 to be screened for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). More than 3,500 people are known to be living with HIV in Delaware. Additionally, nearly one in five people with HIV don't know they are infected. Regular testing allows people who have HIV to know their status, get life-saving treatment, and prevent HIV transmission to others.

In April 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released recommendations that everyone age 15 to 65 should be screened for HIV infection. All pregnant women, including women in labor who do not know if they are infected with HIV, should be screened for HIV infection. Teens younger than 15 and adults older than 65 should also be screened if they are at increased risk for HIV infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies people at increased risk as gay and bisexual men, people who inject drugs, or people with multiple sex partners. These individuals should be tested once a year. CDC data suggests that sexually active gay and bisexual men might benefit from more frequent testing - every three to six months.

"When you know your status, you can take care of yourself," said Dr. Awele Maduka-Ezeh, DPH medical director. "If you find out that you are infected with HIV you can get treatment, which helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives, and also lowers the chance of passing HIV to others."

Dr. Maduka-Ezeh also emphasized the importance of taking steps to stay negative if you don't have HIV. "Remember that your HIV test result expires every time you have unsafe sex or share needles, and you must take the test again."

It's easier than ever to get tested, and DPH has partnered with several agencies to establish multiple testing sites statewide. These sites are stocked with rapid HIV testing kits that require only a single finger needle stick, and give you results within 10 minutes. Ask your doctor for a test, or find a nearby testing site online at National HIV and STD Testing Resources.

In honor of National HIV Testing Day the following organizations will offer services on the days and times below. For information on their regular HIV testing hours, contact them directly. The power is in your hands to get tested and treated for HIV.

AIDS Delaware - Monday June 23 - Sunday June 29, 2014
24-hour testing available
100 West 10th St., Suite 315
Wilmington, DE 19801
Contact Darcy Brasure (302) 652-6776

Beautiful Gate Outreach Center - Friday, June 27, 2014
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
604 N. Walnut St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
Contact Tamika Cobb or Suzanne Tait (302) 472-3002
www.bgate.org.

KENT COUNTY
DPH Kent County Health Unit - June 27, 2014
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Williams State Service Center
805 River Road
Dover, DE 19901
Contact Chantel Collie or Michelle Broadway (302) 857-5150

DPH Milford Health Unit - June 27, 2014
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Milford Health Unit
253 North East Front St.
Milford, DE 19963
Contact Ray Brown or Nelly Harro (302) 424-7130

SUSSEX COUNTY
CAMP Rehoboth - Friday, June 27, 2014
37 Baltimore Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Contact Salvatore Seeley (302) 227-5620

DPH Sussex County Health Unit in partnership with Walker's Mill Community Center - June 28, 2014
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Walker's Mill Community Center
11375 2nd St.
Bridgeville, DE 19933
Contact Mary Johnson (302) 856-5184

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person's spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.