World AIDS Day in Rhode Island
Friday, November 25, 2011
With World AIDS Day coming up Thursday, December 1, AIDS Project RI is offering free walk-in HIV testing from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at its office at 404 Wickenden Street, Providence.
“Our focus is taking charge of one’s health by getting tested for HIV,” said Thomas Bertrand, MPH, AIDS Project RI’s executive director. “We’re hoping that many people, particularly anyone who is sexually active or uses injecting drugs, will commemorate World AIDS Day by stopping by our office between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to get tested.”
Free, painless, and anonymous
The rapid HIV testing is free, painless, and anonymous. People who come in for a test will know their result in about a half hour. Anyone who is sexually active or uses injecting drugs should get tested at least once a year, he noted. More information about AIDS Project RI’s rapid testing program may be found at www.aidsprojectri.org.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMr. Bertrand explained, “We are very proud of our HIV testing services. Over 99% of our clients say that they would recommend us to their friends. Our staff are friendly and our goal is to make HIV testing an easy experience from the moment a client walks through the door.”
Testing is available to any Rhode Islander 13 years of age and older. Sessions are available in English; interpretation services are available for Spanish-speaking individuals.
More information is available by calling 831-5522 or emailing [email protected]. Rapid HIV testing is available on a walk-in basis every Tuesday from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, and by appointment any day of the week from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Mobile HIV testing
“We also have a mobile team of HIV test counselors. So if a community organization, school, or business would like to host a testing session at their location in the future, we’re prepared to go. This is a way for people to get tested without having to walk into an AIDS organization,” he said.
AIDS Project RI is a division of Family Service of RI.
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