World AIDS Day 2015 

WORLD AIDS DAY IS DECEMBER 1ST-
HAVE YOU BEEN TESTED?

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY URGES RESIDENTS TO GET TESTED AND KNOW THEIR STATUS ON WORLD AIDS DAY, DECEMBER 1st
“Getting to Zero”- Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination, and Zero AIDS Related Deaths

Contact:
John May
John.May@flhealth.gov
772-473-5268 cell
772-794-7477 office

Indian River County– On Tuesday, December 1st, the Florida Department of Health will recognize World AIDS Day with the theme of “Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination, and Zero AIDS Related Deaths”. Florida Department of Health in Indian River County is co-hosting a local World AIDS Day event with the Indian River County HIV/AIDS Awareness Network in conjunction with Positive Mind & Body Support Group Network (PMBSGN) and People’s Care on December 1st. The event will take place from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2555 58th Avenue in Vero Beach.

At this event, we will be offering free HIV testing with rapid 15 minute test results, as well as free STD testing. Local speakers will be on hand to provide education on HIV/AIDS and answer questions about this topic. Participants will have the opportunity to get tested, learn about HIV/AIDS, visit community vendors and receive a door prize for attending.

John May, Florida Department of Health in Indian River County’s HIV Outreach Coordinator, encourages everyone to come out and get tested. “A positive diagnosis used to be considered a death sentence, but advancement in treatment has come a long way since then. We understand that getting tested can be a scary process and we work hard to provide participants a safe, nonthreatening opportunity to get tested and know their status in the hope that one day we will ‘get to zero’”, said May.

Florida has the highest number of new HIV cases in the nation. Now is the time to get tested and know your status. For more information regarding HIV and STD testing contact your local health department.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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