FREE HIV TESTING ACROSS THE PANHANDLE FOR NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY 

June 20, 2016

FREE HIV TESTING ACROSS THE PANHANDLE FOR NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY

DOH-Bay will provide HIV Rapid Testing at seven sites in six counties during one-week period

Contact:
Heather Kretzer
heather.kretzer@flhealth.gov
850-872-4455, ext. 1344

Panama City, Fla.— Florida Department of Health Bay County will provide confidential HIV Rapid Testing for free in honor of National HIV Testing day. National HIV Testing Day is June 27, 2016. The tests will be available in six Panhandle counties.

“It’s Important to know your status, whether your result is positive or negative, we can help. If you test positive, know that times have changed. Science has advanced medication options for those who are HIV positive. If you are negative your mind is at ease, not knowing is behind you. Most importantly you need to know how to protect yourself to prevent HIV infection.”, said Rick Vitale, DOH-Bay HIV AIDS Program Coordinator.

Below is the schedule of dates, times and locations for the free HIV tests.

June 23
Calhoun County
Calhoun-Liberty County Health Department
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

June 24
Washington County
Piggly Wiggly in Chipley
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

June 27
Bay County

Florida Department of Health Bay County
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Goodwill Center in Springfield
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

June 28
Jackson County
Jackson County Habitat for Humanity on Highway 90
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

June 29
Holmes County
Holmes County Health Department
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

June 30
Gulf County
Dollar General Market in Port St. Joe
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Eastern

In addition to the free testing, Florida Department of Health Dr. Jeffery Beal Medical Director of HIV/AIDS Section Division of Disease Control Tallahassee will be visiting Bay County on June 29. Dr. Beal along with DOH-Bay’s HIV AIDS Program Coordinator, Rick Vitale, will be meeting with Gulf Coast Medical Center at Noon. They will also meet with Bay Medical Center staff at 2:30 p.m. They will be talking about making HIV Routine Testing as part of the standard testing done with blood work. They will also be discussing the use of nPEP, non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis. These are antiretroviral medicines taken after being potentially exposed to HIV to prevent becoming infected. It is used in emergency situations and started within 72 hours after a recent possible exposure to HIV.

Testing, condoms and information on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) are available at the Florida Department of Health in Bay County. For more information contact Rick Vitale at 850-872-4455. ext. 1189 or visit bay.flhealth.gov.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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