Damien Center to offer free and confidential HIV testing on National HIV Testing Day, June 27

What: National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is June 27. This annual event encourages people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment right away. Damien Center will be offering FREE and confidential HIV testing on-site throughout the day. HIV testing is done through a quick finger prick blood sample, so getting tested is easy and test results are available within 20 minutes. Damien Center also offers free and confidential HIV and STI testing every weekday and on three Saturdays throughout the month. For more information check out the testing section of Damien Center website or call the testing desk at 317.632.0123.

This year’s theme, Doing It My Way, is a call to action that encourages people to get tested for HIV in a way that is comfortable for them. You can test at your health care provider’s office, at another testing site, or even at home. You can test alone or go with a partner, friend, or family member. However you choose to do it, get tested and know your current HIV status.

Why: People who test positive for HIV can lead long, healthy lives through medication and other methods. The only way to know if someone has HIV is to get tested. Knowing your status gives peace of mind and the power to take your health into your own hands.

CDC recommends that 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).

When: Testing at Damien Center is always free and confidential, but National HIV Testing Day will be on June 27, 2019 from 8:30am - 5:00pm. Walk-ins only.

Where: Damien Center, 26 N. Arsenal Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46201

Stats about HIV:

• About 1.1 million people in the United States have HIV
• 1 in 7 people living with HIV do not know they have it
• In 2017, a total of 12,635 people in Indiana were living with HIV/AIDS
• In 2016, new HIV infections were estimated to be at 39,782 in the United States