(Hawthorne, NY) – In recognition of National HIV Testing Day, June 27, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) will offer free HIV testing at community centers in Yonkers and Mount Vernon.
The SmartWheels education and testing van will park outside the Urban League of Westchester, 4 Wilson Place, Mount Vernon, from 11 to 2 p.m. The vehicle will be at the Elm Street Community Center, 85 Linden Street, Yonkers, from 4-6 p.m.
A trained medical assistant will offer free “rapid” HIV tests that only require a swab of the mouth. Results are available in about 20 minutes.
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“With nearly 50,000 new HIV infections each year, National HIV Testing Day reminds us that testing for HIV and STDs is an important step in stopping the spread of HIV while promoting the value of self-care and healthy living,” said President/CEO Reina Schiffrin. “The reality is that more than 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV, yet one in five is unaware of his or her status.”
In 2012, PPHP provided 857 HIV tests from the SmartWheels van for men, women and young people -- a 72 percent increase from 2011. Early detection of HIV enables people to start treatment sooner, leading to better health outcomes and longer lives.
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No appointments are necessary to get a test on the SmartWheels van. To make an appointment at a health center, go to www.pphp.org or call 1-800-230-PLAN (7526).
HIV infection rates are especially high among young people, African Americans, and Latinos. In 2010, African American accounted for 44 percent of all new HIV infections. African-American women accounted for 64 percent of all new infections in women that same year.