National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is today, June 27th. Across the US, approximately 30,000 national organizations, testing and counselling centres in state and community health centres are putting on a range of activities like holding health fairs, providing community and media outreach and running testing-related events.
Many centres are offering free tests, with counselling, and staying open longer. Several will be continuing to do so for another few days.
This is the 15th year of the annual campaign, which is organized by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA).
The purpose of NHTD is to raise awareness and make people realize the importance of knowing one’s HIV status and to encourage early diagnosis and routine testing for HIV/AIDS.
The past quarter of a century has witnessed the most devastating of epidemics to hit human populations: the relentless rising tide of HIV and AIDs has now claimed more than 25 million lives and held back economic development in some of the world’s poorest nations.
There are an estimated 40 million people living with HIV/AIDs worldwide; few people alive today don’t know someone who has died or is living with the spectre of HIV/AIDs.
In the US, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 1 million Americans are living with HIV, of which one quarter, that is 250,000 souls, are unaware of it.
And this group is responsible for over 50 per cent of all new HIV infections, said the CDC in a statement last year. The agency also reported research that showed when infected people are made aware of their HIV status, they significantly reduce their high-risk sexual behaviour.
Despite many promising trials, we are still some distance away from a reliable HIV vaccine. Until then, the most effective way to contain the spread and protect populations from HIV/AIDs is routine testing and educating people how to take care of themselves, whether they are infected or not.
It is not all doom and gloom. Scientific advances in the last 25 years means that people who are infected are living longer, with the chance of a better quality of life.
Also, testing for HIV is more straightforward and takes considerably less time. A screening test is now a mouth swab or a prick of the finger and no longer requires blood to be drawn. The results are available on the same day, and only if the mouth swab is positive do you need to take the next step and have a proper blood test.
Being tested for HIV enables people who are infected to be put in touch with resources that help them look after their health and that of their partners and families. It also helps people who are not infected to access education that teaches them how to stay uninfected.
During today, NHTD campaigners will be reaching out to communities that are most affected and at risk of HIV infection, including African American and Latino populations.
NAPWA representatives will also be reaching out in their communites to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. They will be working with local health departments, businesses, and other groups in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to distribute Testing Day materials to local people.
Click here to find an HIV test centre in your area (US).
Click here for National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA).
Written by: Catharine Paddock
Writer: Medical News Today