In recognition of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is partnering with
ONE Colorado, the
Denver STD/HIV Prevention Training Center, Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS (
CORA), and
The GLBT Community Center of Colorado to offer free HIV testing locations throughout the Denver Metro Area and Colorado Springs.
A candlelight vigil, open to the public, will also be held on the west
steps of the State Capitol beginning at 5:30 p.m. to remember those who
have been impacted by HIV/AIDS. The vigil will feature guest speakers
Dr. Mark Thrun, director of HIV Prevention and STD Control for Denver
Public Health and with the Denver STD/HIV Prevention Training Center,
and Dr. Benjamin Young
, executive medical director for Rocky Mountain Cares. Rocky Mountain Cares provides high quality centralized medical care and supportive services to a diverse and inclusive Colorado HIV/AIDS community.
World AIDS Day first originated in 1988. This year’s campaign focuses
on Getting to Zero—from zero new HIV infections to zero discrimination
to zero AIDS related deaths.
“It’s exciting to see Colorado’s nonprofit community come together for
this year’s campaign, said Amy Dickson, PPRM vice president of clinical
services. Getting to zero stands for a push towards greater access to
treatment for all and a call for governments to act now—all the
organizations involved in this year’s event touch on some aspect of this
overarching theme. Planned Parenthood is so proud to offer the
community free HIV testing on Dec. 1. Testing is the first step to
prevention.”
While the American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated their
recommendation for HIV testing to begin at age 16 for some teens,
stigma, fear, judgment and other barriers continue to get in the way of
routine testing. Every 9.5 minutes someone in the United States is
infected with HIV and 1 in 5 individuals don’t know that they are HIV
positive.
“Thirty years ago the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in the Unites
States. While we have made huge advancements in treatment we still have
a large distance to travel. We estimate that there are about 11,000
people in Colorado who are known to be living with HIV. And 2000-3000
are living with HIV, but are not yet diagnosed. Approximately 430 people
are diagnosed with HIV in Colorado each year. The Obama administration
has developed a national strategy which is to serve as a concise plan
for moving the country forward, but knowing your status is still the
most important step an individual can take to prevent the spread of
HIV,” said Dr. Mark Thrun, medical director, HIV prevention/Denver
Public Health.
Testing is simple; PPRM’s HIV test is a finger prick and results are
available within 12 minutes or less. On Dec. 1, clients are encouraged
to make an appointment or walk in to any of the testing locations.
The free testing sites and vigil are just a few of the many events in
honor of World AIDS Day. St Paul United Methodist & Inter-Spiritual
Community will be hosting a Service of Remembrance & Celebration at
The GLBT Community Center of Colorado on Dec. 1 from 4-5 p.m. In
addition, CORA is participating in an educational and visibility
campaign called Get Your Cake On. Through this effort, bakeries across
Colorado are spreading the word through red ribbon cupcakes. During the
week of Nov. 28, stop by a participating bakery to get your cake on.
Local bakeries participating in this campaign can be found on
Facebook or at
http://on.fb.me/rX7mtV .
