Erase Doubt Teams Up With Walgreens And Greater Than AIDS To Offer Free HIV Testing During HIV Testing Week 2012

LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- June 27 is National HIV Testing Day.  In Los Angeles County, a whole week is dedicated to offering free HIV testing.  During the week of June 25 - July 2, 2012 residents can find free HIV testing available throughout the county. This year, Erase Doubt is teaming up with Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS, a national HIV awareness and prevention campaign, to offer free testing at select Walgreens locations from June 27-June 29.  The full list of HIV testing events in L.A. County can be found at www.erasedoubt.org.

"Los Angeles County is honored to collaborate with Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS to encourage Angelenos to learn their HIV status and take control of their health," said Mario J. Perez, Director of the Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health, Division of HIV and STD Programs.  "New studies tell us that over 30 percent of people with HIV are not diagnosed until they are within a year of an AIDS diagnosis. Early HIV diagnosis is critical in order to fully benefit from available life-saving treatments, thereby staving off an AIDS diagnosis. Our message is simple: Erase your doubt. Get tested. Get treated. It's free."

Los Angeles County encourages residents to get tested for HIV through its Erase Doubt awareness campaign at www.erasedoubt.org. The initiative drives awareness of HIV prevention and provides information about HIV/AIDS care and treatment resources, including HIV testing locations throughout the county.  The campaign's signature red ribbon is in the form of a question mark (indicating doubt or questions regarding HIV) and an arrow (indicating the way to find answers).  The logo serves as a reminder that an HIV test is the only way to erase doubt.  

What is the Department of Public Health doing to combat HIV/AIDS?

• Providing free, rapid HIV testing through the Division of HIV and STD Programs.
• Providing free treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS, even if they cannot afford it. 
• Normalizing HIV testing through community events and public awareness campaigns, such as the one with Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS. There are also efforts underway to help make HIV testing a routine part of an individual's medical checkup in health clinics and doctor's offices. 

Where & When

FREE HIV Testing June 27 – 29 from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the following Walgreens locations:

• 3724 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (Northeast corner of Coliseum and Crenshaw)

(323) 292-7261

• 1800 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90047 (Southwest corner of Western and Slauson)

(323) 292-1941

• 600 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802 (Northeast corner of Long Beach and Sixth)

(562) 279-1027

• 8490 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 1, West Hollywood, CA 90069

(310) 657-4333

*Additional free HIV testing locations and dates are available at www.erasedoubt.org.

This special National HIV Testing Day service is conducted as part of an ongoing collaboration with Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, and Greater Than AIDS, a coalition of public and private sector partners united in response to the domestic epidemic, to bring HIV information and services to the most affected communities.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Act Against AIDS initiative and National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, the official sponsors of National HIV Testing Day, are supporting partners.  For more information, please visit www.greaterthan.org/walgreens

About Erase Doubt
Erase Doubt is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, Division of HIV and STD Programs. The initiative was created to increase HIV testing in L.A. County, drive awareness of HIV prevention, and provide information about HIV/AIDS treatment and care. The EraseDoubt.org web site was developed as an online resource center for Los Angeles County residents at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and/or living with HIV/AIDS. For more information on accessing free HIV testing, care and treatment call 800-367-AIDS (2437), visit www.erasedoubt.org, email [email protected], or consult your health care provider.

SOURCE Los Angeles County Department of Public Health