PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TO OFFER FREE RAPID HIV TESTS ON JUNE 27
For Immediate Release: Sept. 13, 2016
PPSNE health centers in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven, CT will be offering free rapid HIV tests on Monday, June 27, 2016.
June 27, 2016 is National HIV Testing Day and Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) will offer free rapid HIV testing services at select health centers in Connecticut. Rapid HIV tests are quick and simple and can provide results in as fast as 20 minutes.
National HIV Testing Day is a reminder that getting tested for HIV is an important step in stopping the spread of HIV and taking care of your health. The only way to know your status is to get tested. In the United States, more than 1.2 million people are living with HIV. In Connecticut, there are more than 10,200 people living with HIV. Almost one in seven do not know they are infected.
“You cannot tell by looking at someone if they have HIV – the only way to know is to get tested. We invite all people who do not know their status to come for a free test,” said Judy Tabar President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “National HIV Testing Day is a reminder that getting tested for HIV is an important step in stopping the spread of HIV and taking care of ourselves.”
In an effort to promote early detection and a healthy community, PPSNE will be offering free rapid HIV tests at select health centers during normal business hours on Monday, June 27, 2016. Appointments are not necessary, but encouraged. Everyone who gets tested on June 27 will receive a free information bag that includes fun giveaways, educational brochures and safe sex supplies. The following health centers in Connecticut will be providing free rapid tests:
- Bridgeport Health Center
211 State Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
8 AM – 3:30 PM
- Hartford Health Center
1229 Albany Avenue
Hartford, CT 06112
11 AM – 6:45 PM
- New Haven Health Center
345 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
9 AM – 6:30 PM
“Our health centers are open to everyone and we are here to answer any questions or concerns anyone may have. Once you know your status, there is a lot you can do to protect your health, including practicing safer sex,” said Tabar. “The sooner you know your status, the sooner you can get any treatment and information you might need. Early treatment can help prevent serious health problems in the future.”
PPSNE has 18 health centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island that offer many preventive services including HIV and STD testing. HIV can be managed and HIV-positive individuals can live full lives if they know their status and take action to stay as healthy as possible. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV.
Planned Parenthood is a trusted, local resource for convenient and high-quality care for all people, including STD and HIV testing and counseling, all FDA approved birth control methods, pregnancy testing and counseling, emergency contraception, work and school physicals and more. We offer medical interpretation services for non-English speaking patients; have a sliding fee scale based on one’s income and participate in many insurance plans. For convenience, walk-in, online and same day appointments are available.
To make an appointment or for more information, call 1 (800) 230-PLAN (7526) or visit ppsne.org.
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Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) is one of the region’s largest providers of family planning and reproductive health care services. Since 1923, PPSNE has evolved into an organization with 18 health centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island, delivering care to nearly 70,000 patients annually, and 90 percent of the services provided are preventive.
Source
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Inc.
Contact
Media Contact: Josh Morgan
Brand & Communications Manager
Office: 203.752.2900
Cell: 203.815.9825
Published
June 20, 2016