happy national HIV testing day

It's a big, big day for AIDS activists everywhere. Today is National HIV Testing Day and it is usually an opportunity for activists to raise awareness and to get people to get tested (usually for free). For information on Testing Day activities near you and for info on where to get tested, check out this link. And for those of you who think that I don't practice what I preach, I will be getting tested in July during my annual physical.

Here in DC, there's big news on the AIDS front. First of all, on Monday, the District launched a campaign to test every District resident from ages 14 to 84. The plan is to use OraQuick to test them and provide results in 20 minutes. And although there is no plan in place to provide post-testing counseling, this is a big step for DC. In a town with the highest incidence of new AIDS cases (179 per 100,000) and where one in 50 has AIDS, this is good news. Moreover, condom distribution programs and needle exchange programs are in the works.

All this good news is great and all, but it's time for me to rain on the parade. I applaud the DC AIDS Task Force for coming up with such an aggressive testing plan for the city's residents. However, I have yet to hear about a plan for counseling and treatment. Usually, testing is accompanied by counseling and subsequent treatment if necessary (unless you're my doctor who thinks that testing me annually is a waste of an HIV test). How awful would it be to find out that you are HIV+ and you're offered no support and you don't know how to get treated? In fact, that might discourage me from getting tested. I'd much rather walk into the nearest Whitman Walker Clinic and get it done the right way.

So, the moral of the story, kids, is this--get tested but know your resources before doing so. A positive test doesn't have to be a death sentence and there are people out there who want to help you.