Lake County hosts health fair, free HIV testing
The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center, the Lake County Stands Against Stigma Coalition and other community partners have organized a free health fair in observance of National HIV Testing Day.
The event, part of the "Step Up. Get Tested" campaign, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 27, on the front lawn of the Belvidere Medical Building, 2400 Belvidere Road, Waukegan, near the corner of Belvidere Road and Keller Avenue.
In addition to free health and community resources, food and children's activities, free HIV tests (for people 13 and older) and hepatitis C tests (for people 18 and older) will be available. A finger stick will be used for the HIV and hepatitis C testing. Results are available within 20 minutes. Information about viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections will also be available.
This year marks the 20th annual National HIV Testing Day. This day is a reminder that when you know your HIV status, you can take care of yourself and your partner.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care, and some people with risk factors get tested more often. In the United States, nearly 1.1 million people are living with HIV, and nearly one in five do not know they are infected, according to the CDC.
"HIV is a manageable disease with the best outcomes when it is detected early and patients receive proper medical care," said Robert Saqueton, M.D., the Lake County Health Department's medical director. "Our goal is to link individuals living with HIV to appropriate medical care."
The health department's Sexually Transmitted Infections Program offers free HIV counseling and testing Monday through Friday at the Belvidere Medical Building. Information about hepatitis and screening for sexually transmitted diseases is also available.
For more information contact the STI Program at (847) 377-8450, or visit health.lakecountyil.gov/Population/Pages/Sexually-Transmitted-InfectionHIV-Prevention.aspx.