In honor of National HIV Testing Day on June 27th, the Cabell-Huntington Health Department will be offering free HIV testing from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM at their location on 703 Seventh Avenue in Huntington, WV. The theme for this year is “Level Up Your Self-Love: Check Your Status,” encouraging individuals to get tested and seek care if necessary.
HIV testing is a critical tool in engaging individuals in care and maintaining their health, regardless of the test results. Those who test negative can access HIV prevention tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms, and other sexual health services. People who test positive can promptly begin HIV treatment to stay healthy. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative guide efforts to reach all individuals who can benefit from HIV prevention and care.
Michelle Perdue, the Harm Reduction Coordinator at the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, emphasizes that HIV testing is a crucial tool in helping end the HIV epidemic in the United States. Advances in HIV medication have made it possible to link individuals living with HIV to care quickly, allowing them to become undetectable and untransmittable. Daily medication has changed HIV from a death sentence to a manageable condition.
HIV self-testing options such as Together Take Me Home provide free testing for individuals who may not have easy access to in-person testing services and can reduce stigma for those hesitant to seek an in-person test. For those who prefer to test at home, a link is provided for self-testing. For any questions or concerns, you can contact the Cabell-Huntington Health Department at (304) 523-6483.
