LEONARDTOWN, MD (June 17, 2019) – The St. Mary’s County Health Department is offering FREE OraQuick Rapid HIV testing and FREE OraQuick Hepatitis C testing through June 28 (or while supplies last) for the community at the following two locations:
• St. Mary’s County Health Department Clinic, 21580 Peabody Street, Leonardtown, MD (Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
• Harm Reduction Program Office, 46035 Signature Lane, Lexington Park, MD (Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
For more information, please call the health department at 301-475-4330 or visit our Facebook page and click on events at: www.facebook.com/SMCHealthDepartment/
June 27 is National HIV Testing Day. About one in seven people in the United States who have HIV don’t know they have it. Knowing your HIV status can give you peace of mind—and testing is the only way you can know for sure. Knowing your status is also important because it helps you make healthy decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV.
The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care and that people with certain risk factors get tested more often. Testing for HIV can give you important information and help keep you and others safe.
The #DoingItMyWay campaign focuses on the importance of HIV testing, the things that motivate you to get tested and stay healthy, and how to get tested. Share how you’re #DoingItMyWay!
Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by a virus. Most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. For some people, Hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for most people who become infected with Hepatitis C, it becomes a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic Hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in long-term health problems, even death. The majority of infected persons might not be aware of their infection because they do not feel ill. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. The best way to prevent Hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injecting drugs.
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