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Lake County, Ill. — The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center and its partners are hosting free community events to educate about sexually transmitted infections (STIs); encourage routine screening, preventative care, and treatment; and emphasize vulnerable populations for providers and the community. The following events will take place in May and June:
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Health and Wellness Fair – Wednesday, May 7, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Belvidere Medical Building, 2400 Belvidere Road, Waukegan, in the Large Conference Room.
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National Hepatitis Testing Day – Monday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Lake County Administration Building, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan.
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HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day – Thursday, June 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Lake County Health Department, 3010 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, in the Third Floor Board Room.
“Routine testing helps track and control the spread of sexually transmitted infections before they lead to serious complications in our residents and within our community,” said Valerie Johansen, the Health Department’s Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) / Need2Know Lake County Program Coordinator. “These events help us inform residents that help is available and they can get the resources and treatment they need to live healthily.”
Health and Wellness Fair (May 7) and National Hepatitis Testing Day (May 19)
At these events, participants can learn about hepatitis, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections. We are also sharing information on resources available in Lake County, such as education, prevention and harm reduction, testing, and treatment, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Attendees can receive free referrals for hepatitis A and B vaccinations and other Health Department services and schedule a confidential appointment for free hepatitis C and HIV tests at the Health Department’s STI program office, 2400 Belvidere Road in Waukegan.
The Health and Wellness Fair is in partnership with the Health Department’s STI Program / Need2Know Lake County, Behavioral Health Services, A Way Out, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, as well as AbbVie, A Safe Place, Community Walgreens, and Gilead Sciences.
The National Hepatitis Testing Day event is in partnership with the Health Department’s STI Program / Need2Know Lake County and Lake County Stands Against Stigma.
HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day (June 5)
Each year on June 5, HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day is celebrated. This is a time to raise awareness of the challenges HIV Long-Term Survivors face every day. This celebration coincides with the anniversary of the first official reporting of what became known as the AIDS epidemic on June 5, 1981. RSVP by calling Need2Know Lake County at (847) 377-8450.
This event is in partnership with the Lake County Health Department STI Program / Need2Know Lake County, Lake County Stands Against Stigma, and Ascension Alexian Brothers Housing and Health Alliance.
About Need2Know Lake County
The Need2Know Lake County program works to reduce the incidence of infectious diseases in Lake County. The program offers confidential screening for hepatitis, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. They also offer treatment services, vaccines, counseling, educational-based support groups, and many other services.
For additional information or to make an appointment, call (847) 377-8450 or visit lakecountyil.gov/1897/Need2Know-Lake-County-STI-Program.
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