Guilford County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are reminding residents that Thursday, February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.  According to the CDC, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was “established to encourage more blacks to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to educate the black community regarding the importance of HIV prevention, early detection, and treatment.” The US Census Bureau states that although blacks represent only 13% of the U.S. population, the CDC says they are the racial/ethnic group most affected by HIV, accounting for 49% of new HIV diagnoses and 50% of new diagnoses of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Guilford Health Director Merle Green states, “Although much progress has been made to reduce overall rates of HIV/AIDS in our community, there is still a tremendous difference among races.”  According to the Department’s 2007 State of Guilford County’s Health Report, the HIV rate among whites was 13.5 per 100,000 but for minorities it was 71.8.

The Department of Public Health provides HIV/AIDS testing at no charge at its clinical facilities.  To make an appointment at the 1100 E. Wendover Avenue, Greensboro clinic, please call 641-5563. For an appointment at the 501 E. Green Drive, High Point clinic, please call 845-7699.  

In addition to testing in its public health facilities, the Department of Public Health coordinates with its community partners to provide testing in the community.  The following is a schedule for community HIV testing during February:
• February 7   1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.  Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency in High Point
• February 11  5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Triad Health Project in Greensboro
• February 11  6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. NIA Health Clinic in High Point
• February 14  5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Triad Health Project in High Point
• February 18  5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Triad Health Project in Greensboro
• February 18  6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. NIA Health Clinic in High Point
• February 19  5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.  NCA&T Student Health Center
• February  21   1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.  Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency in High Point
• February 25  5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Triad Health Project in Greensboro
• February 25  6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. NIA Health Clinic in High Point

For more information on HIV/AIDS and testing, call Guilford County Department of Public Health at 641-7777 or visit the website at www.guilfordhealth.org and click on HIV-STI-TB.

�