DHEC encourages HIV and STD testing in recognition of National HIV Testing Day - Moultrie News

DHEC encourages HIV and STD testing in recognition of National HIV Testing Day - Moultrie News

DHEC encourages HIV and STD testing in recognition of National HIV Testing Day - Moultrie News

Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:26 PM PDT

National HIV Testing Day is June 27, 2019, and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is encouraging South Carolinians to get tested for HIV and other STDs.

As of December 31, 2017, there are nearly 20,000 South Carolina residents living with diagnosed HIV infection (including AIDS).

"Early detection through testing for HIV remains essential to successfully identifying and treating the disease and is critical to preventing new infections" said Ali Mansaray, Director of DHEC's STD/HIV and Viral Hepatitis Division.

Between 2016 and 2017, over 1,500 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in S.C. Of those newly diagnosed, 66 percent were African American, 22 percent were white, and 8 percent were Hispanic.

Much like new HIV infections, African Americans are disproportionately impacted when it comes to the total number of people living with HIV in South Carolina. As of December 31, 2017, African-American men account for the highest number of individuals living with HIV in SC, which was 46 percent of the total population living with HIV; 22 percent were African-American women, 20 percent were white men and 5 percent were white women. Five percent of people living with HIV were Hispanic/Latino (men and women).

"Most people in the early stages of HIV infection have no symptoms," Mansaray said. "Early diagnosis can link people to services that will help them stay healthy longer, benefit most from treatment, reduce costly hospital visits and help prevent transmission to others."

CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Knowing your HIV status allows you to take steps to keep you and your partner healthy. National HIV Testing Day promotes HIV testing and early diagnosis.

Participating health departments will be offering free HIV/STD testing on June 27. Appointments are encouraged. For more information about HIV testing, as well as local HIV testing sites, call 1-855-4SCDHEC (1-855-472-3432), or visit DHEC's service locator at gis.dhec.sc.gov/HIVLocator.

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