June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, which is dedicated to encouraging people to find out their HIV status and helping those who are positive access treatment and reduce their risk of transmitting the virus to others. National HIV Testing Day also prevents new HIV infections by increasing education and awareness about the virus, and offering access to voluntary counseling and testing services.

Each year on June 27, the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) organizes National HIV Testing Day, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA), and other national and local entities across the country.

In Louisiana, the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health HIV/AIDS Program and its partners from around the state will work towards promoting the benefits of getting tested early and decreasing the barriers to testing among communities at risk.

It is estimated that approximately 5,000 Louisiana residents are living with HIV but are unaware of it. The possibility a person could be living with HIV in this state is high --- 15,471 people are currently living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana.

The state ranked sixth-highest in AIDS case rates and ranked 11th in the number of AIDS cases diagnosed in 2003. Baton Rouge ranked eighth out of 104 metropolitan areas in AIDS case rates; New Orleans ranked 11th.

“If people with HIV have the virus diagnosed early, they are able to receive treatment and care early enough to delay the onset of AIDS,” said LDH Secretary Dr. Fred Cerise. “Early diagnosis also gives us the opportunity to provide outreach and education to help those with HIV better understand how to prevent spreading the virus to others.”

Test sites throughout the state will offer expanded testing hours through June 27 for National HIV Testing Day. A list of activities in each region of the state is listed on the following pages. Testing is free and open to everyone. All activities will take place June 27 unless otherwise specified.

For more information about the testing, contact the Louisiana Statewide HIV/AIDS hotline at 1-800-99AIDS9 or 1-800-992-4379, or the local New Orleans HIV/AIDS hotline at (504) 821-6050.

Region 1 – Greater New Orleans area
Activities – Region 1 HIV Community Planning Group/SPARQ (CAN Office)/My House (Brotherhood Inc.) event at Four Seasons Bar
3229 N. Causeway Blvd
Metairie, La 70002
8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
 *For more information contact Chiquita Covington @ 504-568-7474

Orleans Parish
Activities - Annual Father’s Day & 100 Man March on June 25 at Watson Memorial Church
4400 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA, 10 a.m. -4p.m. or call (504) 243-2332 or (504) 899-4400
* For more information contact Franda Thomas @ 504-568-7474

Region 2 – Greater Baton Rouge area
Activities – Testing at Aspirations Holistic Tutorial Services
2156 Wooddale Blvd.  Suite 650
Baton Rouge, Louisiana    70805
225.248.8533

Counseling and Testing for 24 Hours at Baton Rouge AIDS Society
4550 North Blvd. Suite 105
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
*Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge & Volunteers of America will help and support the 24-hour activity at BRASS.

Capital City Family Health Center
8:30 a.m. – 11:00a.m.   (Rapid Testing)
4400 Gus Young Ave.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana   70802

Metro Health
Counseling and Testing
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
950 East Washington Street
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802
225.338.9333
Rapid Testing will be available upon request
*For more information contact Jack Carrel @ 504-568-7474

Region 3 – Houma/Thibodaux area
Activities – Region 3 HIV/AIDS Council will collaborate with NR PEACE and the Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) to promote education, awareness and voluntary HIV testing throughout the month of June
* For more information contact Michele Curry @ 337-262-1640

Region 4 – Lafayette area
Activities – Rapid Testing available throughout the day on June 27  @ Acadiana CARES,
203 W. Third Street; Lafayette, LA
*For more information contact Michele Curry @ 337-262-1640

Region 5 – Lake Charles area
Activities- Health Screening and HIV Testing Event @ Calcasieu Parish Health Unit
3236 Kirkman
Lake Charles, LA

Education and Awareness at Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council (SLAC)
1715 Common Street
Lake Charles, LA from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Testing Events will be held 6/21 at Abraham’s Tent, 2300 Fruge Street, from 11 a.m.-1p.m. and SWLA Center for Health Services from 4-7p.m.,  DeRidder Addictive Disorders Clinic, 417 North Pine Suite C, DeRidder, LA  from 5-7p.m. on 6/23 and at Moss Regional Medical Center, 1000 Walter Street, 10 a.m.-1p.m. on 6/24
 *For more information contact William Mayo @ 337-527-8392

Region 6 – Central Louisiana
Activities – Education, Awareness and Testing Event at Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services (CLASS)
103 Bolton Avenue
Alexandria, LA on June 24
 *For more information contact William Mayo @ 337-527-8392

 Region 7 – Northwest Louisiana
Activities – PSA regarding National HIV Testing Day
 *For more information contact Susan Wible @ 318-361-7314

 Region 8 – Northeast Louisiana
Activities – Public Awareness and Education
Testing Dates and Sites:

Thursday June 16
Parkview Apartments
1101 Richwood Road #78
Monroe, Louisiana 1 – 2:30 p.m.
S & S Photo
809 Winnsboro Road
Monroe, Louisiana 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday June 17
YO! Center
1320 Sparrow Street
Lake Providence, Louisiana 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
YO! Center
1012 North Beech Street
Tallulah, Louisiana 11 a.m. – noon

Monday June 20
Gold Moore’s
3500 Burg Jones Lane
Monroe, Louisiana 1  p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Emily P. Robinson Recreation Center
3504 Jackson St.
Monroe, Louisiana 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday, June 21
Deli Mart Complex
707 East Main Street
Oak Grove, La.  1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Wednesday June 22
Cooper’s Bar
1705 Brown View
Columbia, Louisiana  1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Wilson’s Barber Shop
1206 Blanson St.
Winnsboro, Louisiana  3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Thursday June 23
DeSiard Street Shelter
907 DeSiard Street
Monroe, Louisiana  Noon – 1 p.m.

Marbles Recreation Center
3500 Renwick Street
Monroe, Lousiana  1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Powell Street Recreation Center
1401 Powell Ave.
Monroe, Lousiana  2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

The Corner Bar
512 North 3rd  Street
Monroe, Louisiana  9 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Friday, June 24
Jonesboro Housing Authority
300 Leon Drive
Jonesboro, Louisiana  3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
*For more information contact Susan Wible @ 318-361-7314

Region 9 – Florida Parishes
Activities – Education and Awareness at Southeastern University
D. Vickers Hall (1st Floor)
500 N. University Ave
Hammond, La 70402
10 a.m.- 12 p.m.
*For more information contact Chiquita Covington @ 504-568-7474

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