April 18 is National Transgender HIV Testing Day
Focus is on importance of routine testing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 17, 2023
LAS VEGAS — National Transgender HIV Testing Day (NTHTD) is April 18, a day to recognize the importance of routine HIV testing, status awareness and continued focus on HIV prevention and treatment for transgender and nonbinary people in the community.
To commemorate NTHTD, the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) is encouraging transgender and nonbinary persons to get tested for HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections as well as learn about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Express HIV Testing is available Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Sexual Health Clinic, 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107. Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, but patients are encouraged to arrive early and they must be asymptomatic. Testing that is offered also includes syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Additionally, free HIV testing is available in the Arleen Cooper Clinic at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Services are offered Monday through Thursday from 1 – 6 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted.
SNHD also offers at-home HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea testing through its Collect2Protect program. The HIV test is free; the others are fee-based. The kits are available on SNHD’S Collect2Protect page and provide a convenient and private testing option.
Early diagnosis is critical for people with HIV so that they can benefit from antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART reduces HIV levels in the bloodstream, reduces HIV-related illnesses, and lowers the risk of transmitting HIV to intimate partners. With ART, HIV-positive people can remain healthy for many years.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one million people identify as transgender in the United States, and transgender people made up 2 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2019. Likewise in Clark County, transgender people made up 3.4 percent of new HIV diagnoses from 2017-2021. For more information, visit the CDC’s HIV and Transgender People: HIV Prevalence page.
Health care providers are the foundation of gender-affirming HIV screening, prevention and care. Included among these providers are The Center, the Henderson Equality Center and the Las Vegas TransPride Center, all members of the Southern Nevada Health Consortium.
In addition, the Las Vegas TransPride Center, located at 727 S. 9th Street, Ste. B, Las Vegas, NV 89101, offers a space for the trans community to gather for activities and events. Services include a food pantry, clothing boutique, book exchange, a “Binder” program for trans masculine individuals, help with name change, medical advocacy, and chaplaincy or hospital visits.
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.