MEDIAÂ RELEASE
HONOLULU – As part of National HIV Testing Day on June 27th the Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is encouraging individuals to get tested for HIV and learn their HIV status. Because National HIV Testing Day this year is on a Saturday, the DOH is encouraging individuals to take advantage of free HIV testing services during the week leading up to National HIV Testing Day and the week after: June 22 – July 3.
For individuals who test positive for HIV, there are excellent care and treatment services available in Hawai‘i. Early HIV diagnosis and access to medical care leads to better treatment outcomes. Those who test HIV negative can learn ways to protect themselves and stay negative.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that everyone from age 13-64 have an HIV test,†said Nancy Deeley, HIV Testing Coordinator for the DOH STD/AIDS Prevention Branch.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that everyone from age 13-64 have an HIV test,†said Nancy Deeley, HIV Testing Coordinator for the DOH STD/AIDS Prevention Branch.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one million Americans are living with HIV and about 25 percent (250,000) of this total are unaware of their HIV infection. There are an estimated 56,000 new HIV infections in the U.S. each year.
The following are HIV/AIDS data for Hawai‘i:
• It is estimated that there are 2,300 to 3,200 individuals in Hawai‘i who are living with HIV/AIDS.
• Since 1983, there have been 3,071 reported cases of AIDS in Hawai‘i (as of December 31, 2008). Of these reported cases, 1,291 individuals are still living and 1,780 have passed away.
The Hawai‘i State Department of Health provides free HIV testing on all islands. Contact information for free HIV testing services follows:
O‘ahu
Diamond Head Health Center, 3627 Kilauea Avenue, Honolulu
– Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
– Wednesday: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Contact phone: 733-9281
Hawai‘i Island
Hilo: Contact Peter Tuiolosega Silva at (808) 974-4247
Kona: Contact Janice Caravalho at (808) 322-1920
Maui
Contact Barbara Joslin at (808) 984-2129
Kaua‘i
Contact Jason Yaris at (808) 821-2741
For more information on HIV/AIDS and access to testing, see the Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s STD/AIDS Prevention Branch website:
http://hawaii.gov/health/healthy-lifestyles/std-aids/index.html
For more information on National HIV Testing Day, go to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (national) website:
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