GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In honor of World AIDS Day, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) will be offering free, walk-in HIV testing.
From 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, anyone can go to KCHD's main clinic at 700 Fuller NE in Grand Rapids to be tested by a certified test counselor. The counselor will be prepared to answer any patient questions and, if needed, connect them with the services they need.
According to KCHD, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 20% of the people who have HIV don’t even know they're infected.
“People who don’t know they have HIV have a higher risk of serious medical problems and death,” said April Hight, the supervisor of the Personal Health Services Division at KCHD. “They can also pass the virus to others.”
The department said it's important to receive an early diagnosis when it comes to treating and living with HIV, as the illness is known to damage the immune system over time.
“HIV can often go undiagnosed because there may not be any obvious signs and symptoms,” Hight said. “That’s why it’s important to get tested regularly, especially if you have multiple sex or needle-sharing partners.”
World AIDS Day began in 1988 to recognize people around the world who've been affected by the illness and raise awareness that HIV is still a global health issue.
This year, the theme of World AIDS Day is “Rock The Ribbon,” which encourages people to wear a red ribbon on Dec. 1.
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