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Health Dept. Offering Free Remote HIV Testing For World AIDS Day

The Lexington Fayette County Health Department will once again observe World AIDS Day by providing free HIV Testing at various spots across the city.

Today marks the 26th annual World AIDS Day, a time to recognize the continuing work being done by public health staff, community partners and advocates to prevent the spread of HIV in Kentucky and to honor those living and struggling against the resulting daily challenges of being HIV-positive.   

Kevin Hall, spokesman for the Lexington Fayette County Health Department, says they will be out and about helping people know their HIV status.

“On a regular basis we provide walk-in confidential testing, but today we’re going to out into the community.  So that way people can come, get some free condoms, cocoa, donuts, and while they’re at it, know their status.  They can get tested for HIV,"  said Hall.

Hall says, even though an AIDS diagnosis is no longer the death sentence it once was it's still very present in the community.

"The CDC estimates that every 9.5 minutes someone in the U-S becomes infected with HIV.  In Kentucky, at the end of last year, there were 5,949 people reported living with HIV.  And the number in Fayette County is the second highest in the state.  There are 843 people, which represents 14% of the total numbers living in Fayette County with HIV," Hall said.

The 2014 theme is “Focus, Partner, Achieve: an AIDS-free Generation.”

LFCHD staff will be at the following spots throughout the day:

  • 9-11 a.m. at the corner of Rand Avenue and North Limestone Street.;
  • noon-2 p.m.; College for Technical Education, 1165 Centre Parkway;
  • 3-5 p.m. 2189 Versailles Road (Save-A-Lot parking lot).

Copyright 2014 WUKY

Alan Lytle