Prevention

About 900,000 people in the United States are currently living with HIV or AIDS. An estimated 300,000 of them are unaware they are infected. In our community, the numbers are just as astounding.

People still die from AIDS each day. With no cure and no vaccine for AIDS currently available, the only way we can stop HIV is to prevent its spread. Every community has its own unique prevention needs. We provide a variety of programs to help stop this disease.

The Damien Center offers free and confidential HIV testing Monday through Saturday. We have trained, supportive prevention case managers to help counsel groups and individuals who may be considered high risk of HIV or other STD's. With many of our services provided off-site, we are able to reach out to the community to best serve our clients where they live.

Diagnosis

An HIV positive diagnosis means that a person is infected with the disease that causes AIDS. This virus was passed from person-to-person by blood and/or sexual contact. Pregnant women may also pass the virus to their baby during either pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding. Most people do develop AIDS as a result of their HIV positive infection.

When a person is diagnosed with AIDS, they are usually very ill or have shown positive results in specific blood tests administered by a physician. Today there is medicine available to slow down the rate that HIV breaks down a person's immune system. However there is no cure. With any disease, early diagnosis and understanding of the disease provides more opportunities for treatment and quality of life.

Project Safe Sex

Please join our online community at www.myspace.com/projectsafesex to learn more about this disease and how to remain safe and HIV/STD-negative. For more information about this online community and Project Safe Sex, please contact Rhonda Bayless rbayless@damien.org.

For more information on our prevention and diagnosis services,
please contact Rhonda Bayless, rbayless@damien.org  ext 275.


If you believe you are at risk and would like to
schedule a test, please get tested.