The Tennessee Department of Health joins a coalition of health providers and other partners across the country taking part in National HIV Testing Day this Friday, June 27. As part of this effort to raise awareness and promote prevention of HIV, TDH is teaming up with Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS to provide free HIV testing at sites across Tennessee June 26-28. The Department of Health encourages all sexually active Tennesseans, regardless of age, to get tested for HIV.
In Rutherford County, FREE HIV testing will be provided June 26th through the 28th at Walgreens in Murfreesboro at 1131 Mercury Boulevard.
“It is estimated that more than one million Americans are living with HIV infection, but almost one in six of these people don’t know they have the virus,” said TDH HIV/STD Section Director Shanell L. McGoy, PhD, MPH. “The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. Take the Test, Take Control.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Southern region of the United States accounts for 37 percent of the country’s population, yet nearly 50 percent of new HIV diagnoses are in this region. Tennessee is being recognized for efforts to reduce HIV infection rates and provide services to those living with HIV. McGoy and TDH Ryan White Part B Program Director Tonya King, MPA participated in the invitation-only Meeting on HIV in the Southern United States June 18 at the White House. King presented information about Tennessee’s array of services provided through the Ryan White program during a panel discussion on achieving impact at the local level. King noted that in 2013, Tennessee exceeded the National HIV/AIDS Strategy goal to increase the number of Ryan White clients with permanent housing to 86 percent by 2015.
TDH statistics show the urgent need for increased efforts to prevent HIV, with cases reported in every county in Tennessee. In 2012, there were 923 new cases of HIV diagnosed in Tennessee. Since 1992, more than 25,000 Tennesseans have been diagnosed with HIV. Of that number, more than 19,000 Tennesseans are currently living with a diagnosis of HIV.
Anyone can obtain free, confidential HIV testing at Tennessee’s local health departments.
Other locations for FREE HIV Testing:
1388 Volunteer Parkway Bristol
1 Medical Park Blvd. Bristol
3605 Brainerd Road Chattanooga
110 North Market St. Chattanooga
1202 South James Campbell Blvd., #24 Columbia
500 South Willow Ave. Cookeville
214 Broad St. Elizabethton
601 Skyline Drive Jackson
2240 North Roan St. Johnson City
429 North State of Franklin Road Johnson City
1420 West Stone Drive Kingsport
2400 North Broadway St. Knoxville
4001 Chapman Highway Knoxville
627 Gallatin Pike, South Madison
1130 South Bellevue Blvd. Memphis
1863 Union Ave. Memphis
1359 Poplar Ave. Memphis
5080 Stage Road Memphis
5040 Park Ave. Memphis
1131 Mercury Blvd. Murfreesboro
5600 Charlotte Pike Nashville
2611 Franklin Pike Nashville
3130 Clarksville Pike Nashville
1081 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville
2115 Memorial Blvd. Springfield
