Healthy Living: Local News

Get Tested For World AIDS Day

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By: By Maureen Mespell
By Scott Sarvay

Story Updated: Dec 1, 2010

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Area events kicked off Wednesday morning for “World Aids Day” to help raise community awareness and fight the stigma and discrimination against people living with aids. An issue that's being highlighted here in our area.

Around the world, more than 33-million people are infected with HIV. And the disease does not target certain segments of the population.

AIDS Poster Artist Kameron Mack says, “Every nine and a half minutes someone new is infected with HIV or AIDS or whatever. Doing research for my poster, I found that young people my age account for more than 40% of people that have AIDS altogether.”

And as part of World AIDS Day, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health is encouraging residents to go red and get tested for HIV.

“Wearing a red ribbon is one simple way to support the global fight against HIV/AIDS” says Kathy Thornson, director of the HIV/STD Prevention Program. “An even better way is for anyone with a risk for exposure to HIV to get educated, get tested and, if necessary, get treatment.”

Free HIV testing will be available on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) from noon to 2 p.m. A special observance in the Walb Student Union at IPFW will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information on HIV testing, go to www.allencountyhealth.com.

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