Press Release
JUNE 26th, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR
PHONE:561-355-3576
FAX:561- 355-3035
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PALM
BEACH COUNTY—64% or 1 in 42-HIV/AIDS
cases in the county are from
the black community.
During HIV Test Day, June 27, 2007 Black Elected Officials
will be tested and speaking
about the need for greater
awareness of this disease
and its devastating effects
on the black community.
At 10:00 AM at the Riviera Beach Health Center, 7289
Garden Road, County
Commissioner Addie Greene,
Supervisor of Elections
Arthur Anderson and other
black elected officials will
be available to answer
questions and receive the
Orasure HIV test.
Each year about 2% of the people tested find out that they
are HIV positive. This
number along with those who
have a clinical diagnosis
results in almost 400 new
cases reported annually.
Currently, over 2700 people
are living with HIV and
another 4000 have AIDS.
Persons involved in the
research and tracking of
this disease estimate there
are another 1700 people in
the county unaware they are
HIV positive or have AIDS.
This year a number of sites are also offering STD testing for
Hepatitis A, B, C, and
Syphilis. Although treatable
it is very important to get
tested for these and other
STD’s like gonorrhea and
Chlamydia as it can stop the
1,000 new infections
annually.
“I would like to see everyone tested as an annual routine,”
said Health Department
Director Jean Malecki, M.D.
“But especially those who
have participated in
unprotected sexual activity,
shared injection needles
during drug use, tattooing,
or piercing or had a blood
transfusion prior to 1985.”
A complete list of sites is available by calling 211 or
through the following
websites,
www.pbchd.com,
www.hivtest.org ,
or
www.PBCSAC.org.
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