| DALLAS – World AIDS Day - Friday, Dec. 1 - is an annual effort produced by The World AIDS Campaign (WAC) to bring awareness to this fatal and preventable disease. This year's theme, "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise," is an appeal to governments, policy makers and regional health authorities to ensure that they fight against HIV and AIDS. In recognition, new patients can receive a no-cost* or $10 off a low-cost HIV test at any of Planned Parenthood of North Texas' (PPNT) 28 clinics Friday, Dec. 1.
There are now 39.5 million people living with HIV, including 2.3 million children, and during 2006 some 4.3 million people became newly infected with the virus. Approximately 50% of new HIV cases are people under the age of 25 and most will die from AIDS complications before they are 35.
Did you know the impact of HIV and AIDS on women is growing rapidly? According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- 30% of new HIV infections are found in women
- Women accounted for 7% of new AIDS cases in 1986 and 25% in 2002
- 75% of new HIV infections are due to heterosexual sex
- African–American women account for 64% of new AIDS cases reported among women
The lack of awareness of women's risk of HIV infection among health care providers too often means that women are tested and diagnosed later in their infection. Many women are infected by male partners without having any awareness of being at risk of infection and are often unlikely to seek testing until symptoms appear.
Anyone can receive $10 off a low-cost HIV test at any of PPNT's clinic locations. Anyone who may qualify as at-risk can receive a no-cost HIV test at 14 of PPNT's clinics.
For more information about clinic locations, patients should call 1-800-230-PLAN.
*PPNT receives a grant from the Department of State Health Services to provide no-cost HIV testing to patients at highest risk of infection in the North Texas area. This grant provides clinical and outreach testing as well as education and prevention case management at sites that receive the funding.
For more than 70 years, Planned Parenthood has provided compassionate health care in North Texas. In 2005, PPNT served more than 87,000 patients in its 28 clinics. PPNT also provides health education outreach to 10,000 individuals a year.
"Celebrating 70 years of providing compassionate health care in North Texas communities." (1935-2005)
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