June 20, 2006

Charlotte, NC – The Mecklenburg County Health Department will participate in National HIV/AIDS Testing Day on June 27, with free tests and counseling on that day and during the entire week.

The Health Department, in partnership with the Metrolina Aids Project, the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network and the Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium, will offer testing and counseling at several sites around Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 200,000 people nationwide are HIV-positive and don't know it. HIV counseling and testing enables those with the disease to take steps to protect their own health and help those who test negative to get the information they need to remain uninfected. 

Local test sites are part of a national campaign started by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US) to encourage at-risk individuals to seek voluntary HIV counseling and testing. They hope to reach out to communities at increased risk of HIV including African-American and Latino populations, both of which are disproportionately affected with HIV when compared to other demographic areas in the United States.

Testing will be provided throughout the week:

• Monday, June 26:
      4 - 6 p.m., University Park Baptist Church, 6029 Beatties Ford Road
   
• Tuesday, June 27:       
      8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hal Marshall Center, 700 North Tryon Street
      3 - 7 p.m., Silver Mount Baptist Church, 501 West Arrowood Road
      4 - 8 p.m., Brother2Brother, 740 West Fifth Street
      4 - 6 p.m. University Park Baptist Church, 6029 Beatties Ford Road
   
• Wednesday, June 28:    
      4 - 8 p.m., Lesbian and Gay Community Center, 1401 Central Avenue
      4 - 6 p.m., University Park Baptist Church, 6029 Beatties Ford Road
   
• Thursday, June 29:      
      4-8 p.m., Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble Street, Davidson
   
• Friday, June 30: 
      4 - 8 p.m., Metrolina AIDS Project, 127 Scaleybark Road

For more information about testing sites, or to schedule an appointment at the Health Department, call 704-432-TEST.  To learn more about HIV/AIDS, visit the Web site www.meckhealth.org.