Health District relocates and combines STD, HIV/AIDS clinics;
Opens Sexual Health Clinic, June 11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 6, 2012
LAS VEGAS – Beginning Monday, June 11, the Southern Nevada Health District’s STD and HIV/AIDS clinics will be housed in the new Sexual Health Clinic, 400 Shadow Lane, Suite 106. Clinic hours will be 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday. STD services include testing, treatment, exams, referrals and counseling; the cost is $30. HIV testing is available on a walk-in basis during regular clinic hours. HIV clinical services including case management and referrals are available by appointment. For additional information contact the Sexual Health Clinic, (702) 759-0702. For HIV test results, contact (702) 759-0733. For testing options or additional testing locations, visit www.SNHD.info or email the clinic STDClinic@snhdmail.org.
As of Monday, June 11, STD and HIV/AIDS services will be transitioning from the East Las Vegas Public Health Center and will no longer be available at the Henderson Public Health Center. Services were temporarily offered at these locations as a result of the closure of the health district’s main facility in April.
“The Sexual Health Clinic offers confidential testing and treatment services. We combined the clinics so we can offer more comprehensive care to our clients in a central location. We are excited to be able to have our program fully operational,” said Bonnie Sorenson, director of clinics and nursing services. “STDs and HIV infections can be are very complex and clients can be reluctant to get tested. We encourage people in our community to learn their HIV status and to get tested for common and curable STD infections.
The Southern Nevada Health District encourages Valley residents to learn their HIV status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in five people with HIV in the United States are not aware they are infected and could be passing the infection along to their partners. Early diagnosis is critical for people who are HIV positive so they can benefit from treatment. The health district’s Sexual Health Clinic offers several HIV test options, some with same-day results.
The CDC also recommends annual testing for individuals who engage in high-risk sexual behavior or use intravenous drugs. Pregnant women should be tested during the early months of their pregnancy to help eliminate transmission of HIV to their infants.
Untreated STDs can have long-term consequences and cause at least 24,000 women in the United States to become infertile. If untreated, syphilis can lead to brain, cardiovascular and organ damage. In pregnant women, syphilis can result in congenital syphilis (syphilis in babies), stillbirths, infant death soon after birth (40 percent of cases) or physical deformities and neurological complications in children who survive. STDs increase the risk of HIV transmission for men and women.
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The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.