Southern Nevada Health District observes National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
September 27 observance highlights HIV testing, prevention and treatment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 26, 2024
LAS VEGAS — Friday, September 27, is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, focusing on the continuing and disproportionate impact of HIV on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) is calling attention to efforts to end the HIV epidemic by expanding testing, prevention, treatment, and to reducing stigma.
In 2021, an estimated 32,100 new HIV infections were reported in the United States. Clark County reported 488 new HIV diagnoses in 2022; of those, 243 were associated with male-to-male sexual contact. Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV, and about 13% of them are unaware of their status. From 2015 to 2019, the number of new HIV infections among gay and bisexual men in the U.S. decreased from an estimated 26,900 to 24,500. However, gay and bisexual men accounted for 67% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021.
Disparities persist among Black and African American and Hispanic or Latino gay and bisexual men, who receive more new HIV diagnoses than those of other racial and ethnic groups. Young men aged 13 – 24 with HIV are more likely to be unaware of their HIV status than men of different age groups.
Express HIV testing is available at no cost from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday at the Southern Nevada Community Health Center’s Sexual Health Clinic, 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107. Free testing is also available at the Fremont Public Health Center, 2830 E. Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89104, from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. each Friday. No appointments are needed, but clients must be asymptomatic. Visit the Southern Nevada Community Health Center’s website at Services – Southern Nevada Community Health Center (snchc.org) for more information.
No-cost HIV testing is available in the Arleen Cooper Community Health Center at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Hours are 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. –
2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted.
SNHD’s Collect2Protect program provides free at-home HIV tests, providing a convenient and private testing option. The kits are available on the Collect2Protect page.
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.