Free HIV Testing

adapted from a press release:

AccessMatters, formerly Family Planning Council is teaming with Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, and Greater Than AIDS, a leading national public information response to the U.S. domestic epidemic, to offer free HIV testing at select Walgreens stores in Philadelphia, PA. The testing events are taking place June 26-28 in support of National HIV Testing Day.

AccessMatters, along with state and local health departments and AIDS service organizations across the country, is coordinating testing and providing results on-site at participating Walgreens locations, as well as supporting community outreach.

AccessMatters will be providing free HIV testing at Walgreens, located at 1809 E. Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia, on June 26^thand June 27^th from 3:00pm to 7:00pm and on June 28^th from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

This marks the fourth consecutive year Walgreens has teamed with Greater Than AIDS and local organizations to help offer free HIV testing to communities. This year’s effort doubles the number of participating markets from last year.

According to the Philadelphia AIDS Activities Coordinating Office and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 19,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia.  Philadelphians are being infected with HIV at a rate five times the national average with over 700 new cases diagnosed each year.

For other locations see:  http://greaterthan.org/articles/walgreens-testing-2014/#.U6uTTfldWSo

Personal note:  I was tested for HIV years ago as part of a preconception checkup.  Men and women who are thinking of having biological children should have an HIV test done.