AHF hosts free rapid HIV testing in conjunction with Faithful Central Bible Church

Dec 7 2009

In observation of World AIDS Day 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS group which currently provides more than 15,000 free HIV and STD tests annually in California via its community-based testing programs, is hosting a day of free rapid HIV testing in conjunction with Faithful Central Bible Church this Sunday December 6^th starting at 6:00am going until 4:00pm at the congregation’s church in Inglewood (321 Eucalyptus Street, Inglewood, 90301). The HIV testing marathon—which is expected to be Los Angeles County’s largest ever single HIV testing event—is being held as part of AHF’s ‘Testing Millions’ campaign, a worldwide initiative to test more than three million people in conjunction with the observance of this year’s World AIDS Day, which officially fell on Tuesday, December 1^st.

70 certified HIV testing technicians will work on five of AHF’s mobile HIV testing units—including AHF’s Magic Johnson and Blair Underwood Mobile Testing vans—as well as one large big-rig style specially outfitted testing truck. The testing units will be located in front of the church and in the parking lot.

“We are honored to be working with Faithful Central Bible Church on this marathon testing event, which is likely to be the largest single HIV testing event ever in the history of Los Angeles County,” said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Director of AHF’s Public Health Division. “There are currently as many as 15,000 HIV positive individuals in Los Angeles County who do not know their HIV status because they have never been tested for the virus. Through this testing event, we hope to normalize and de-stigmatize the entire process of HIV testing so that people look at HIV testing as a routine part of their health care, as recent CDC guidelines now advise. We know that knowledge of one’s HIV status really helps us break the chain of new infections, as people take steps to reduce the risk of passing on their infection to others once they know their own status. I strongly urge people with any questions about their own HIV status to come out and join us and get tested this weekend.”

The ‘Testing Millions’ World AIDS Day 2009 global testing campaign has been organized by AIDS Healthcare Foundation in coalition with hundreds of global partners mobilizing non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local and national governments, international relief agencies, faith-based organizations, civil society, the media for a collaborative effort to conduct more than three million tests during an extended week of testing surrounding the observation of World AIDS Day 2009.

http://www.aidshealth.org/