FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 8, 2022

LAS VEGAS – To commemorate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Thursday, March 10, the Southern Nevada Health District will provide free Express HIV Testing from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Sexual Health Clinic, 280 S. Decatur Blvd. Visit the Sexual Health Clinic page on the Health District’s website for information about sexual health services.

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to support women and girls who are living with HIV and to encourage others to be tested for HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for every 100 women with HIV, 90 knew their HIV status.

While HIV diagnoses among women declined 7 percent between 2014 and 2018, the decline varied among race and ethnicity. Hispanic and Black/African American women continue be more impacted by HIV than their white counterparts.

Testing is an opportunity for women and girls to learn their HIV status so they can take steps to protect their health. Routine testing is recommended for women who are at a high risk of infection. The Health District also offers free, at-home HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea testing through its Collect2Protect program. The kits are available on the Health District’s Collect2Protect page and provide a convenient and private testing option.

According to the CDC, just 7 percent of women who could benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were prescribed the medication in 2018. PrEP is a medication that can be provided to people who do not have HIV but are at a high risk of infection. PrEP can prevent becoming infected with the virus. For more information about women and PrEP, visit the CDC’s Let’s Stop HIV Together webpage.

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.

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.