The mainstream media are starting to cover stories on HIV and AIDS as we approach the 30th anniversary of the first reports of a handful of gay men in Los Angeles showing symptoms of an opportunistic infection. A few days after the June 5th anniversary, forty of the world's leaders will gather at the United Nations to address the progress made--along with the unmet need.
To put things in perspective, if we had an AIDS quilt for everyone living or dead from HIV it would cover all of Washington DC instead of just the grass along the Capitol Mall. One of the highlights of the past few weeks is the news that getting HIV-positive folks on medication greatly reduces the risk of transmission. But to get treatment to play a role in prevention, we would need the one in four who are positive and don't know it, to get tested.
Here at the CARE program we offer free confidential testing for HIV Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm by appointment. Our number is (562) 624-4900. We use Ora-Quick testing, so you'll have your results in 20 minutes and because it's an oral test for HIV, there's no needles.
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