Sarasota County Health Department and community-based organizations that are part of the HIV/AIDS Network of Sarasota County (HANS) will offer free HIV testing in the community from Oct. 9 – 20. This is in recognition of the fifth annual Hispanic/Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day observance. 

 

HIV/AIDS is preventable yet the disease continues to disproportionately affect minorities. Only one in four people who have HIV know they are infected. HANS has adopted “Keep the Promise” as the theme for a six month HIV/AIDS awareness campaign that includes National Hispanic HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, World AIDS Day, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Local residents are challenged to Keep the Promise and make the following pledges:

• Show compassion and love to those with HIV/AIDS

• Protect your baby and your loved ones -- Know your HIV status

• Get an HIV test regularly

• Educate others about HIV/AIDS

• Be personally responsible

HIV testing results are always kept strictly confidential and are not shared with anyone, including family members, significant others, employers or landlords. Those who test positive will immediately be linked to health care and treatment.

 

Those who wish to get an HIV test can choose from a variety of testing methods. Comprehensive Care Clinic offers OraQuick Rapid HIV Antibody testing, which provides testing results in only 20 minutes. Sarasota County Health Department and other HANS agencies offer the fast and easy OraSure® HIV test or a traditional blood test; testing results are available in about two weeks. OraSure® testing consists of placing a treated cotton pad resembling a toothbrush between a person’s cheek and gums for two minutes. “It’s easier than brushing your teeth,” says Gary Ervin, Health Services Representative with the Sarasota County Health Department’s Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) program. “If you’ve never been tested, or had unprotected sex or shared a needle since your last test, now is the time to get an HIV test.” 

 

For more information on those HIV testing opportunities call the Sarasota County Health Department at 941-861-2900.