FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2007

Health Department offers special HIV testing clinic

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Health Department will offer free, confidential HIV testing June 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in support of National HIV Testing Day. Free testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis also will be available at this clinic.

The testing will be provided at the Health Department, 2400 Troost Ave., on a walk-in basis. Informational booths will be set up in the atrium.

"People should be tested regularly for HIV if they are sexually active," said Ron Griffin, manager of the Communicable Disease Prevention and Public Health Preparedness Division. "Knowing your status is the key in preventing the spread of this disease."

In the first five months of 2007, Kansas City, Mo., had 61 new cases of HIV reported. Of these new cases, 74 percent are males, 58 percent are males over the age of 30, and 52 percent are black.

"Our goal is for people to get tested. If they test positive for HIV, then we want to help them get treatment," said Samantha Hughes, manager of the Health Department's HIV Planning Council Support and Prevention Program.

Free testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases routinely is available at the Health Department Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the STD clinic. Appointments are preferred and will shorten wait time, but walk-ins are allowed. To schedule an appointment, call (816) 513-6379.

For more information about the special clinic, call the Health Department, (816) 513-6132.