Get Healthy Carson City: World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1st every year. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness that Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still with us. It is also a day when we join with others around the world to prevent HIV, support people living with HIV and remember those who have lost their lives to HIV-related illness.

This year’s theme is “Acting Together: Sustaining and Accelerating HIV Progress.” This theme underscores the U.S. Government’s commitment to capitalizing on the significant progress made by global and domestic HIV programs over the past four-plus decades and ensuring that no communities are left behind. This year, Carson City Health and Human Services encourages you to take control of your health and get tested for HIV first.

Screening and testing are important prevention and treatment measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested at least once and get tested annually if you are at risk for HIV, including:

• Any person who is sexually active

• Having sex with a person infected with the virus who is not receiving medical treatment

• Having more than one sex partner

• Engaging in unprotected sex

• When a person does not know about the sexual history of a sexual partner

• Share syringes/needles with others

Carson City Health and Human Services is hosting a day of free HIV testing in honor of World AIDS Day. This walk-in clinic will take place on Monday, December 2nd between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come by and get tested.

The Carson City Health and Human Services clinic is located at 900 E. Long St. on JAC bus routes 1, 2A and 2B. Free HIV testing is available every day, but on December 2nd there is no need to call ahead or make an appointment.

If you can’t come by or make it to our Carson City clinic on December 2nd, visit https://endhivnevada.org/free- to find other medical offices near you that offer free HIV testing. HIV testing locations/.

For information about services and programs available to you through Carson City Health and Human Services, visit our website at https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/ or call us at 775-887-2190. You can also find us at 900 E. Long St. in Carson City or follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/cchhs or Instagram @GetHealthCarsonCity.