National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign to encourage people of all ages to get tested for this preventable disease.
The National Association of People with AIDS founded National HIV Testing Day in 1995 and the theme for this year’s National HIV Testing Day is “Test Your Way. Do It Today.”
South Arkansas Fights AIDS (SAFA) in El Dorado will commemorate the day by offering extended testing hours from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
SAFA’s office is located at 526 W. Faulkner in El Dorado and offers free, anonymous oral HIV tests during regular office hours, from 10-11:30 a.m. and from 1-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday or call for appointment at 870-875-2099, said Janet Beane, SAFA director. She said the confidential test includes an oral mouth swab with results available in 20 minutes.
SAFA’s mission is to educate the community about HIV/AIDS, to help prevent the spread of the disease and to render assistance to those already stricken. In addition to HIV tests, SAFA also offers HIV prevention education at the office and other sites that include privacy for pre-test counseling and post-test results. In 2017, SAFA provided direct services for numerous HIV/AIDS clients and their families. Beane said many of SAFA’s clients suffer from problems associated with no or very low income, substance abuse and mental illness.
SAFA offers a food pantry, money for gasoline to travel for doctor appointments, prescription co-pays and nutritional supplements. In 2017, SAFA provided prevention programs for 381 individuals and participated in local health fairs with an estimated 2,385 attendees.
“Many people do not know they have HIV,” Beane said. “An estimated 1.1 million people are living with HIV and one in six don’t know they are infected. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV. If you have HIV, getting medical care and taking medicines regularly helps you live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others.”
The Arkansas Department of Health reported 278 new HIV cases in the state in 2016, the latest HIV/AIDS statistics reported to date. Union County is in the Southwest Public Region of the state, where there were 32 new HIV cases reported that year. In 2016, there were 124 reported new cases of AIDS in Arkansas. HIV/AIDS medication has improved greatly since the 1980s and people are living longer and healthier lives. The medication is very costly and affects taxpayers in the United States.
SAFA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and receives funding from the United Way of Union County, Union County Community Foundation, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, fundraising efforts and donations from local organizations, churches and individuals.