Free HIV Testing Day at Planned Parenthood on June 27

As part of National HIV Testing Day, Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan (PPWNM) will offer free HIV testing by appointment at all eight of its health centers on Thursday, June 27, 2013.

PPWNM has locations in Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Ionia, Muskegon, Big Rapids, Traverse City, Petoskey, and Marquette: people can call 800-230-PLAN (7526) and be connected to their nearest Planned Parenthood health center to make an appointment for Free HIV Testing Day.

With an estimated 1.1 million people in the U.S. living with HIV or AIDS, 20 percent of whom do not even know it; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all Americans ages 13-to-64 receive routine HIV testing, not just those considered high risk.

“Something like HIV testing can be easy to put off. Free HIV Testing Day is a great day to put your sexual health front and center,” said PPWNM Vice President of Medical Services Bridget White.

This year’s National HIV Testing Day theme is Take the Test, Take Control. PPWNM makes it easy to do with the Rapid HIV test by Alere®, “It only takes a simple finger poke and about 20 minutes to get your results and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your status for sure,” said White.

Planned Parenthood offers private, confidential HIV testing to men and women of all ages, in addition to a wide range of preventive health services including lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), breast health services, the HPV vaccine for women ages 18-to-26, and sexual health information and education. Last year, PPWNM provided health care to nearly 14,000 people in our communities.