New Philadelphia health department offering HIV testing
February 20, 2012
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The New Philadelphia city health department is kicking off the free anonymous or confidential HIV testing clinic starting Thursday, March 1. This HIV testing clinic is the only free testing site in Tuscarawas County and was made possible through funding received from the Canton city health department and the Ohio Department of Health.
According to the CDC, about 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. Nearly one in five people with HIV dont know they are infected, dont get HIV medical care, and can pass the virus on to others without knowing it. Each year, about 50,000 people get infected with HIV in the U.S. It is important that everyone knows their HIV status, said Vickie Ionno RN and health commissioner. Getting an HIV test is the first step to finding out if you have HIV and getting medical care. Without medical care, HIV leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and early death.
Theres new hope today for stopping HIV with antiretroviral medicines that can lower the level of virus in the body. Antiretroviral helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others. Without the use of the right antiretroviral treatment, more than 16,000 people with AIDS die each year. If we can help even one HIV positive person by getting them into early treatment to prevent them spreading the virus and from developing AIDS it will be worth it, said Ionno.
HIV tests will be offered anonymously or confidentially. The HIV test is simple, and results will be given in 20 minutes. While the client waits, they will receive counseling and an educational packet about HIV, the way it is spread and ways to protect themselves from getting HIV. The New Philadelphia city health department is located at 150 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia (in the John Knisley Municipal Centre) and will be conducting free HIV testing every Tuesday, from 8-11:30 a.m. and every Thursday, from 8-11:30 a.m. and again from 1-4 p.m. For more information, call 330-364-4491, ext. 208.
