New Mississippi Wellness Center Offers Free Testing for HIV, STDs

In News by AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) opens its newest U.S. Wellness Center offering accessible and affordable screening for sexually transmitted diseases in Jackson, Mississippi – center will promote sexual health as part of routine health care for all sexually active people.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) opened a new AHF Wellness Center in Mississippi on November 6 offering free sexually transmitted disease (STD) screenings, including HIV testing. The new clinic is located at 766 Lakeland Drive, Suite A; Jackson, Mississippi 39216 and is open on Wednesdays from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Walk-ins are welcome. More information can be found at www.freeSTDcheck.org or by calling (601) 368-3440.

The Wellness Center is designed to make testing for STD’s accessible, convenient and affordable, as well as to encourage regular sexual health screenings as part of routine health care for all sexually active people. Services offered include: free screening and treatment for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis, and free HIV testing.

“We are pleased to be opening a new AHF Wellness Center in the Jackson area to offer free and low-cost health services to the community,” said Michael McKany, AHF Deputy Director of Wellness Center Programs. “Our hope is that by offering these services in a friendly, non-judgmental venue that is easy to access and free, more people in Jackson will consider health screenings as a regular part of their health maintenance – like eating healthier and getting a yearly check-up at the dentist.”

“According to the CDC, the United States will spend $16 billion dollars to treat 20 million STD cases per year,” McKaney added. “There is effective treatment for most STDs, so it truly is better to know your status – for your health and for the health of your partner or partners.”

In 2011, Mississippi reported 21,216 Chlamydia cases, 5,814 Gonorrhea cases, and 191 cases of Primary and Secondary Syphilis, according to the CDC. That year, Mississippi also reported 617 newly diagnosed HIV cases. Notably, there is often a significant correlation of HIV infection reported alongside other STDs.

AHF also operates Wellness Centers in California, Florida, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas, as well as in Mexico City. Additional location information can be found at www.freeSTDcheck.org.

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