Health District commemorates World AIDS Day, Dec. 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 25, 2015

LAS VEGAS –World AIDS Day is Tuesday, Dec. 1. This year’s theme is ”Getting to Zero” – zero deaths, zero discrimination and zero new cases. The Southern Nevada Health District and its community partners encourage everyone to get tested to learn his/her HIV status. Testing is available at the Gay & Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) and the Richard Steele Boxing Club. For more information, contact the Southern Nevada Health District Sexual Health Clinic (702) 759-0702 or visit www.SNHD.INFO for additional testing sites.

In addition, the health district will be supporting the Gay & Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada and the HIV/AIDS Awareness Consortium at a candlelight vigil at 6:30 p.m. on campus of The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) will light the Welcome to Las Vegas sign at 8 a.m. in observance of World AIDS Day.

As of December 2014, there were more than 8,400 people living with HIV/AIDS in Clark County. More than 4,000 Southern Nevadans are living with HIV and there are more than 4,300 people living with AIDS locally. A study by UNAIDS, a joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS, noted that approximately 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV.

The health district will offer free rapid HIV testing at the following locations on Tuesday, Dec. 1:

Gay & Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada
10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
401 S. Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, NV
(702) 733-9800
www.thecenterlv.org

Richard Steele Boxing Center
2475 W. Cheyenne Ave., Ste. 120
North Las Vegas, 89032
(702) 638-1308

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.1 million people over the age of 13 are living with HIV infection in the United States. There are approximately 50,000 new HIV infections each year, a number that has remained stable since the mid-1990s. Several years ago, the CDC recommended that voluntary HIV testing become routine for patients between the ages of 13 and 64.

World AIDS Day was adopted in 1988 by representatives of 140 countries at the World Summit of Ministers of Health on AIDS. The day serves as an opportunity for governments, non-governmental and local organizations, AIDS programs and individuals to increase awareness and demonstrate solidarity in the fight against AIDS.

In addition to the traditional blood test for HIV, the Sexual Health Clinic offers testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Testing is available between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday at the Sexual Health Clinic, 400 Shadow Lane, Suite 106. All testing at the health district is confidential and the fee is $40.00.

Weekly HIV and STD testing opportunities are available at the following locations:

Monday – Thursday
Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada
Free HIV/STD screenings
10:30a.m. -12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
1:30p-5p on Thursdays
401 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas 89101
(702) 733-9800

Tuesday
Richard Steele Boxing Facility
Free HIV testing/STD screenings
Noon-5 p.m.
2475 W. Cheyenne Ave., Ste. 120
North Las Vegas, 89032
(702) 638-1308

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.