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Date: June 26, 2006

AIDS Organizations Join to Promote HIV Testing on National HIV Testing Day

“Take Control, Take the Test, Know Your Status”

Tuesday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day whose goal is to encourage people who do not know their HIV status to be tested. The Nassau County Department of Health, the Nassau County HIV Commission and other concerned agencies remind residents of the importance of HIV testing to prevent its spread and to get infected persons into treatment. Twenty five years into the HIV epidemic, people are still becoming infected.

“Knowing your status is the first step in helping yourself as well as keeping other loved ones safe,” said Dr. David Ackman, Nassau County Commissioner of Health. “An early diagnosis can mean a better and longer quality of life to those infected with the disease.”

  • The CDC estimates that approximately 250,000 Americans are living with HIV, but are unaware of it. Twenty-five percent of these HIV infected persons do not know they are infected, and so continue to potentially put others at risk.

  • Almost 40% of persons diagnosed with HIV infection progress to AIDS within a year of being diagnosed, suggesting that they have been infected for many years before testing. Delays in diagnosis prevent early treatment with life-prolonging Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment (HAART.)

  • Over 3,800 residents in Nassau County have been diagnosed with AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic. (New York State Department of Health statistics as of 1/28/06, through December 31, 2004).

  • In 2004, there were 166 Nassau residents newly diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.

  • Women, particularly women of color, are increasingly becoming HIV infected. Women make up almost 37% of the new cases of AIDS and African Americans make up over 50%.

  • Although people are living longer with HIV/AIDS and medicines are available to keep them well, there is still no cure.

The following sites are offering free HIV counseling and testing on June 27, 2006:

The New York State Health Department offers free anonymous HIV counseling and testing. Telephone number: 1 - 800 462-6785.

250 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.

Planned Parenthood of Nassau County is offering confidential HIV counseling and testing at all three of their health centers. No appointments are needed. Telephone number is (516)-750-2500.

Hempstead Health Center, 540 Fulton Ave., 9 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Glen Cove Health Center, 110 School St., 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Massapequa Health Center, 35 Carmans Rd., 9 A.M. to Noon

Long Island Association for AIDS Care (LIAAC) is hosting HIV testing with locations in Hempstead, Freeport and Long Beach. For information call (877)-865-4222.

Long Island Minority AIDS Coalition (LIMAC) will conduct HIV counseling and testing in Hempstead at 100 Terrace Avenue, 2:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. Telephone: (631)-225-5500.

Nassau County Department of Health offers free, confidential HIV counseling and testing by appointment only. Telephone number is (516) 571-2019.

The New York State Department of Health has recently taken steps to increase the number of persons being tested for HIV by reducing barriers to HIV testing, including streamlining HIV pre-test counseling using simplified “Informed Consent”forms. Other actions have included promoting use of rapid test technology, improving access of persons with HIV to health and supportive services, and better monitoring the quality of HIV care.

The NYSDOH recommends that physicians routinely discuss and offer HIV testing with patients, regardless of perceived risk and adopt a “low threshold” for recommending an HIV test. This includes all sexually active persons, persons with a history of substance abuse, and persons in areas of high seroprevalence (i.e., >1%), including major urban areas. Testing is recommended in most medical settings including emergency rooms.

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign produced by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US) to encourage at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing. NAPWA distributes campaign kits to community groups and health departments of all sizes to help create NHTD campaigns and events targeting their local communities.

For additional information, call the Nassau County Department of Health weekdays from 9:00 A.M. to 4:45 P.M. at (516) 571-2019.
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