news release

 

ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive

JOSHUA LIPSMAN, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health

 SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director of Communications

 

 

CONTACT:     SUSAN TOLCHIN                                                                            (914) 995-2932

                           MARY LANDRIGAN                                                                     (914) 813-5013

                                                                                                                                      (914) 813-5000 (After Hours)

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                  June 23, 2004          

 

 

FREE TESTING IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY

 

In observance of National HIV Testing Day, Sunday, June 27th, the Westchester County Department of Health is teaming up with Project W.A.V.E.–Westchester to promote free HIV/AIDS testing and education. Project W.A.V.E. (War Against the Virus Escalating) consists of eighteen organizations throughout Westchester County.

“While we have made tremendous strides in diagnosing and treating HIV disease and related infections, these advances mean little to someone who does not know that he or she is infected,” stated Westchester County Health Commissioner, Joshua Lipsman, MD, MPH. “Even today, far too many people still learn that they have HIV quite late in their infection, missing years of opportunity for early care and treatment.”

Free testing will be available at the following sites:

Friday June 25                    Pathmark Supermarket, 3rd St and 3rd Ave                  9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

                                          Mount Vernon

 

Friday June 25                    Martin Luther King Center, 95 Lincoln Ave                   9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

                                          New Rochelle

 

Friday June 25                    Lobby of 30 South Broadway                           9:00a.m. – 12:00noon

                                          Yonkers                                                          

 

Friday June 25                    Vision Quest Record Store                                           2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

                                          Yonkers          

 

MORE

 

Page 2 National HIV Testing Day

 

Sunday June 27                  Soccer Field at Croton Gorge Park                               11:00 a.m. – 6:00p.m.

                                          Croton

 

Sunday June 27                  Soccer Field at City Park                                              12 noon – 6:00 p.m.

                                          New Rochelle. NY 10801

 

 

Sunday June 27                  African American Heritage Day Festival                        12 noon – 6:00 p.m.

                                          Kensico Dam, Valhalla

 

Sunday June 27                  Soccer Field at Franciscian Convent                             9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

                                          at Graymoor, Route 9, Garrison

 

 

In addition, the new rapid test is offered throughout the year at the following locations:

 

Westchester County Department of Health                   Tuesdays                      1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Yonkers District Office

20 South Broadway, 2nd floor

Yonkers

Free, confidential and anonymous testing

 (914) 813-5256

 

New York State Department of Health                          Mon. & Fri.                  9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

420 North Avenue

New Rochelle

Free, confidential and anonymous testing

1-800-828-0064

 

Saint John's Riverside Hospital                                      Mon. - Thurs.               10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Park Care Pavilion

2 Park Avenue

Yonkers

Free and confidential testing

 (914) 964-7412

 

The Mount Vernon Hospital                                           Mon. – Fri.                   9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Family Health and Wellness Center

12 North Seventh Avenue

Mount Vernon

Free and confidential testing

 (914) 664-8000 ext.2624

 

 

MORE

 

Page 3 National HIV Testing Day

 

Open Door Family Medical Center, Inc.                        Mon. – Fri.                   9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

165 Main Street

Ossining

Free and confidential testing

(914) 941-1263

 

Open Door Family Medical Center, Inc.                        Mon. - Fri.                   9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

90 South Ridge Street

Rye Brook

Free and confidential testing

Number (914) 937-8899

 

Hudson River Community Health                                   Mon – Thurs.               9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(beginning 7/1/04)

1037 Main Street

Peekskill

Free and confidential testing

(914) 734-8760                            

 

Agencies involved with Project W.A.V.E. include ARCS (AIDS-Related Community Services), Children’s Village, Planned Parenthood, Mount Vernon Hospital, Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center, Greenburgh Health Center, Open Door Family Medical Center, Family Services of Westchester, Westchester County Department of Health, Westchester Youth Council, St. John’s Riverside Hospital, The Sharing

Community Inc., Urban League of Westchester, Volunteers of America, Living Together and the Grace Baptist Church.

In 1995, the National Association of People with AIDS launched National HIV Testing Day on June 27th as a way to reach millions of those at risk with a simple message: “Take the Test, Take Control.”  The campaign has a special focus on reaching out to African-Americans, Latinos, young people, gay/bisexual men, and women at risk of infection.

For more information on National HIV Testing Day, contact the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or www.westchestergov.com/health.

 

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