HIV Testing Make it a Regular Health Routine

HIV Testing: Make it a Regular Health Routine

6/27/2019

Health ＆ Social Services

Article Date: Thursday, June 27, 2019

In the United States, about 1.1 million people have HIV, and 1 in 7 of them don’t know it – subsequently, many people have HIV for years before they get diagnosed. HIV testing and early diagnosis is vital, as we now have powerful tools to prevent HIV transmission and help people with HIV to stay healthy. In Sacramento County, there are 4,559 people who have been diagnosed and living with HIV have access to treatment and services to help maintain their health and live long productive lives.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that, nationally, far less than half – only about 40% – of people who should be tested for HIV have been, and testing remains low in areas with the highest HIV burden.

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), a day to encourage people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment if they have HIV. This year’s theme, Doing It, Testing for HIV, reminds us that HIV testing should be a part of everyone’s regular health screening routine. Share why and how you are getting tested for a chance to be featured on the Doing It My Way social wall.

The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care and those at high risk get tested at least once a year or more.

To prevent the spread of HIV, the Sacramento County Public Health’s HIV/STD Prevention Program provides residents with a variety of STD/HIV prevention and education services including:

STD/HIV education and prevention information and condom distribution
Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening
HIV antibody testing and risk reduction counseling
Linkage to HIV and STD treatment
Community involvement through the Sacramento Workgroup to Improve Sexual Health and the HIV Health Services Planning Council
Other STD/HIV outreach activities and social marketing campaigns

In addition, the Sacramento County program funds and promotes other local community organizations and HIV/STD testing sites. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is also available to provide HIV-related services for those who are uninsured or underinsured to manage the disease.

“Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to help keep you and your partner healthy, Sacramento County Public Health is working to raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing and early diagnosis of HIV,” said Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye.

What Can You Do?

Get the facts. Learn about HIV, actions you can take to prevent getting or transmitting HIV, and share this information with your family, friends, and community.
Get tested. The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. To find a testing site near you, use the Doing It testing locator, text your ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948), or call 1-800-CDC-INFO. You can also use a home testing kit, available in drugstores or online.
Protect yourself and your partner. Today, we have powerful tools to prevent HIV and help people with HIV to stay healthy. If you have HIV, start treatment as soon as possible after you get a diagnosis. The most important thing you can do is take HIV medicine as prescribed by your doctor.
HIV medicine lowers the amount of virus (viral load) in your body, and taking it every day can make your viral load undetectable. If you get and keep an undetectable viral load, you can stay healthy for many years, and you have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV through sex to an HIV-negative partner. To make sure you keep an undetectable viral load, take your medicine as prescribed, and see your provider regularly to monitor your health.
Talk to your doctor about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours
Talk to your doctor about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you think you have a risk for exposure.