National Healthcare for Homeless Day: August 13th, 2008

    SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- San Francisco has the highest
 rate of tuberculosis (TB) in the U.S., with recurrent outbreaks among the
 homeless and marginally housed, according to the most recent study on
 homelessness and TB by Harvard Medical School. Additionally, the Tenderloin
 has the highest rates of TB in San Francisco. To address this health care
 crisis, St. Anthony's will offer free tuberculosis screening on Wednesday
 August 13th, 2008, as a part of National Health Care for the Homeless Day.
 According to findings released at last week's International AIDS Society
 conference in Mexico City, TB is one of the leading causes of AIDS
 mortality. In the last two weeks both the World Heath Organization and
 Journal of the American Medical Association have urged expanded screening
 for communities in which HIV and TB intersect. Screening for the deadly
 airborne bacteria is also critical for San Francisco homeless, as all San
 Francisco city shelter clients must provide current TB test documentation
 to stay in city run shelters.
 
     "The highest rates of TB are found in the Tenderloin. Although we test
 all of our scheduled patients for TB, this additional outreach for
 screening will help bring more people into the folds of healthcare and
 treatment, which is good for everyone. The more people we can test, the
 more people we can get treated," noted St. Anthony Free Clinic Medical
 Director, Dr. Ana Valdes.
 
 

     WHEN:   NATIONAL HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS DAY/TB SCREENING
             Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
             Special Screening Hours 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
 
     WHERE:  St. Anthony's (New Green Facilities)
             150 Golden Gate, San Francisco
 
     St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic is one of the many free,
 life-sustaining programs and services of St. Anthony Foundation that helps
 to heal individuals and families. The Clinic provides over 12,000 patient
 visits annually, of which approximately 25% are pediatric visits. St.
 Anthony Foundation is not funded by federal, state, or local government
 money, and is entirely supported by private donations.
 
 
 

SOURCE St. Anthony Foundation