Every year on June 27, we take the time to recognize National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). This day reminds us of the importance to educate and care for our community around HIV testing and treatment.
The 2020 NHTD theme is about the power of “Knowing”- knowing your HIV status, knowing your risk, knowing your prevention options, and knowing your treatment options. This theme highlights the many ways to stay in-the-know about HIV testing and expands beyond testing to include broader awareness of the many options related to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. This year also focuses on self-testing as an option when facility-based services and in-person patient-clinician contact is limited.
Amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic, Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) continues to offer free HIV testing at our Marietta and Douglas Public Health Centers. We invite Cobb and Douglas residents to get tested at one of our locations from June 22 through June 30 for a chance to win an Amazon gift card.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2017 the South made up 52% (19,968) of new HIV diagnoses in the US. Currently 1 in 7 people don’t know their status. Cobb County is identified as one of the 48 counties with the highest incidence of HIV infection in the country.
“The current state of public health requires us to be innovative with reaching and protecting the community. Knowing your status is essential to your sexual health and wellness. Our HIV Prevention team continues to offer free HIV testing and PrEP services are offered at all of our health centers. Most recently, we have given Cobb and Douglas residents an opportunity to order free condoms that are delivered in discreet packaging in the mail. Lastly, we are very excited about the HIV self-testing pilot that will be implemented in the coming weeks,” said Karrie Reed, CDPH HIV Prevention Manager.
Free RAPID HIV testing is offered at CDPH, Monday through Friday during normal business hours.
For more details, call 770-514-2815 or visit https://www.cobbanddouglaspublichealth.com/
About Cobb & Douglas Public Health:
Cobb & Douglas Public Health, along with the Georgia Department of Public Health, has been committed to the mission of “Healthier Lives. Healthier Community.” since 1920. We are dedicated to improving our residents’ quality of life by tracking and preventing the spread of disease, promoting health and safety, providing exceptional medical services, and ensuring that our community is prepared for public health emergencies. For more information, visit www.cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org