By rdnewsNOW staff

Turning Point

HIV testing Thursday in Red Deer

Jun 25, 2019 | 5:25 PM

Turning Point, along with Primary Care Network’s Street Clinic, is taking part in the 2^nd annual national HIV Testing Day on Thursday (June 27).

“The goal of the day is to effectively target groups disproportionately affected by the virus,” said Kevin Cunningham, Health Promotion Outreach with Turning Point.

National HIV Testing Day aims to reduce the stigma often associated with HIV testing.

“Building on the success of last year, this event is truly about normalizing HIV testing, increasing Canadians’ capacity to make informed decisions regarding their own sexual health, and decreasing stigma’’ says Gary Lacasse, Executive Director of the Canadian AIDS Society.

The theme for this year’s Testing Day is “Know Your Status.”

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1 in 5 Canadians living with HIV are unaware that they have HIV. Officials say the only way to know for certain if you’re HIV-positive is to get tested.

HIV Testing Day was created in response to the rising HIV rates being seen in Canada. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s 2017 HIV Surveillance Report, there has been a 17.1% increase in the number of new HIV infections in Canada between 2014 and 2017.

About 65,000 people in Canada have HIV.

A major priority for this year’s event will be to reach the undiagnosed Canadians who officials say are disproportionately affected by HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Blood Borne Infections (STBBI), and/or Canadians who have never been tested.

On HIV Testing Day, rapid HIV tests will be administered using point-of-care testing (POCT) kits, which give results in under a minute. If a positive result is detected, blood draws will be taken, which will also be used to test for other STBBIs. Pre- and post-test counselling will be provided to all participants to help determine their risk factors. If a participant tests positive for HIV or another STBBI, the local community based organization will be able to form a long-term relationship with the individual and work toward ensuring their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

More information is available at www.hivtestingday.ca.