Posted November 21, 2011 9:12 am EST
Indianapolis - Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) will recognize World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1 every year, by offering free HIV tests at 19 of its health centers from the first of December through Dec. 8, 2011.
PPIN’s free tests, which are made possible by the nonprofit’s Women’s Health Fund, will be offered at the following centers: Avon, Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis-Castleton, Indianapolis-Eastside, Indianapolis-Midtown, Indianapolis-Southside, Hammond, Lafayette, Madison, Merrillville, Mishawaka, Muncie, Richmond, Terre Haute, Valparaiso and Warsaw.
After Dec. 8, half-price tests will be available at the Avon, Bloomington, Indianapolis-Castleton, Indianapolis-Eastside, Indianapolis-Midtown, Indianapolis-Southside, Lafayette and Muncie health centers, while supplies last. Thanks to a generous grant from the Indiana AIDS Fund, patients will pay $12.50 for an HIV test at these centers, instead of $25. In Bloomington, the Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee also provided a special grant to assist with the half-price testing.
According to the most recent statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people of living with HIV – the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS – is higher than ever before, with an estimated 1.1 million infected in the United States. In Indiana, the State Department of Health says over 10,000 Hoosiers were living with HIV or AIDS as of June of this year.
While there is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS, Hoosiers can help prevent the spread of the disease by having regular tests and minimizing their risks of infection.
“HIV testing is essential for prevention, treatment and care,” said PPIN Vice President of Patient Services Liz Carroll. “Knowledge of one’s HIV status is the key to preventing the spread of this disease, and that’s why we encourage men and women to bring their partners in for testing, too.”
To make an appointment, please click here for a list of center locations and contact information. You may also call 1-800-230-PLAN to reach the health center nearest you. An appointment for a free or half-price HIV test is recommended, but not required.
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