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Media Contacts:
Heather Alberda
AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator
Ottawa County Department of Public Health
(616)393-5774 or halberda@miottawa.org
Charley Bowers
Out on the Lakeshore
(269)767-1071 or outonthelakeshore@gmail.com
June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, a day to encourage people to get tested for HIV, know their status and get linked to care and treatment if they have HIV. This year’s theme; Doing It My Way - Testing for HIV, reminds us that each person has their reasons why they test for HIV and their unique ways of Doing It. Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to help keep you and your partner healthy. Join us on National HIV Testing Day to raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing and early diagnosis of HIV.
The Ottawa County Department of Public Health will provide FREE testing on June 27 from 3-7 pm at Out on the Lakeshore, 451 Columbia Avenue, Holland. No appointment needed! Confidential testing is only a prick of the finger and takes 20 minutes. Share the event on Facebook!
 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 1.1 million people in the United States have HIV, and 1 in 7 of them don’t know it. Many people have HIV for years before they get a diagnosis. For those who are living with undiagnosed HIV, testing is the first step in maintaining a healthy life and reducing HIV transmission.
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"Testing for HIV and other STDs is one of the most important ways to ensure sexual health, along with using condoms correctly and consistently, among those who are sexually active," said Heather Alberda, sexuality educator.
The CDC recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care and those at high risk get tested at least once a year. Some sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing (every 3 to 6 months).
For more information about HIV and STD testing, along with other sexual health services, call (616) 396-5266 or visit www.miOttawa.org/SexualHealth.
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