Local sites providing free, confidential testing for National HIV Testing Day

Healthcare workers renew efforts to increase HIV testing as part of a national strategy to make best use of highly effective tools now available, specifically HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Equitas Health, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Health and local health departments, is leading efforts to raise awareness and increase testing as rates of HIV infection continue to increase.

According the Centers for Disease Control, at the end of 2017 in the state of Ohio a total of 23,587 people were living with diagnosed HIV infection. 45% of those infections were among Black/African-Americans despite representing only 14.2% of Ohio's population.

Earlier this year the Ohio Department of Health awarded Equitas Health a $1 million grant to increase access to the HIV preventative intervention, PrEP, and to support harm reduction efforts.

PrEP is a game-changing intervention that allows HIV-negative individuals to take a once daily medication to prevent HIV infection.

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The funding has allowed for 15 new Prevention Health Navigation positions in Columbus, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Youngstown, Lima, Athens and Portsmouth. Navigators are helping individuals at risk for HIV connect with PrEP services and help remove barriers to the intervention.

The funding for navigators comes as the Ohio Department of Health launched a Prevention Assistance Program Interventions (PAPI) program in October 2018. The PAPI program provides financial assistance to cover office and medical copays; copays associated with required laboratory work; prescription copays that are not covered by a patient assistance program; medical services for people who are not eligible for insurance.

"We now have all the tools we need to end the HIV epidemic. Key community partnerships along with the PAPI program will allow us to remove the main barriers we have seen to this life-saving intervention.” said Bill Hardy, Equitas Health's President & CEO.

“This program complements Equitas Health's robust services for those living with HIV, as we work to ensure those infected or affected continue to have the medical care they need.," said Hardy.

The following locations will provide HIV testing opportunities:

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Walgreen’s locations, in partnership with Dayton and Montgomery County Public Health from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.