COLUMBIA, S.C. - National HIV Testing Day is June 27, 2019, and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is encouraging South Carolinians to get tested for HIV and other STDs.

As of Dec. 31, 2017, there are nearly 20,000 South Carolina residents living with diagnosed HIV infection, including AIDS.

“Early detection through testing for HIV remains essential to successfully identifying and treating the disease and is critical to preventing new infections,” said Ali Mansaray, Director of DHEC’s STD/HIV and Viral Hepatitis Division.

Between 2016 and 2017, more than 1,500 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in S.C. Of those newly diagnosed, 66 percent were African American, 22 percent were white, and 8 percent were Hispanic.  

Much like new HIV infections, African Americans are disproportionately impacted when it comes to the total number of people living with HIV in South Carolina. As of December 31, 2017, African American men account for the highest number of individuals living with HIV in SC, which was 46 percent of the total population living with HIV; 22 percent were African-American women, 20 percent were white men and 5 percent were white women. Five percent of people living with HIV were Hispanic/Latino (men and women).

“Most people in the early stages of HIV infection have no symptoms,” Mansaray said. “Early diagnosis can link people to services that will help them stay healthy longer, benefit most from treatment, reduce costly hospital visits and help prevent transmission to others.”

CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Knowing your HIV status allows you to take steps to keep you and your partner healthy. National HIV Testing Day promotes HIV testing and early diagnosis.

Participating health departments will be offering free HIV/STD testing on June 27. Appointments are encouraged. For more information about HIV testing, as well as local HIV testing sites, call 1-855-4SCDHEC (1-855-472-3432), or visit DHEC's service locator at gis.dhec.sc.gov/HIVLocator.

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This year, testing and other events will also be held at the following locations across the state in observance of National HIV Testing Day:

Free HIV Testing June 24-28 Waverly Family Practice/Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center 1228 Harden Street Columbia, SC 29204 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, June 20 St. Luke's Episcopal Church 1300 Pine Street Columbia, SC 29204 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Friday, June 21 Sandhills Medical Foundation 600 Rutledge Street Park Camden, SC 29020 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Sunday, June 23 Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services National HIV Testing Day Virtual Town Hall Meeting Cecil Tills Center 2111 Simkins Lane Columbia, SC 29204 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 25 Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services 2638 Two Notch Road, No. 108 Columbia, SC  29204 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Waverly Family Practice/Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center/Transitions Youth 8512 Two Notch Road Columbia, SC 29223 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Bowl HIV Away

Wednesday, June 26 Joseph H. Neal Health Collaborative/ Wateree Community Actions Inc./ Antioch Baptist Church Utility Assistance Outreach event with HIV testing 5715 Koon Rd. Columbia SC 29203 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation Benedict Student Health Center 2315 Laurel Street Columbia, SC 29204 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Thursday, June 27 HopeHealth Orangeburg and Walgreens 1106 John C. Calhoun Drive Orangeburg, SC  29115 1 p.m.–7 p.m.

HopeHealth Florence and Walgreens 306 N. Irby Street Florence, SC 29501 1 p.m.–5 p.m.

Tandem Health and Walgreens 201 N. Lafayette Drive Sumter, SC  29150 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Piedmont Care, Inc. 101 N Pine Street, No. 200 Spartanburg, SC  29302 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Affinity Health Center and Walgreens 1008 Oakland Avenue Rock Hill, SC  29732 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Waverly Family Practice/Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center 1228 Harden St & 2117 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29204 Parking Lot Backyard BBQ 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CareSouth Carolina Inc. and Walgreens 901 S. 5th Street Hartsville, SC 29550 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Wright-Wellness Center and Walgreens 5900 N. Main Street Columbia, SC 29203 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

CAN Community Health 1911 Hampton Street Columbia, SC 29201 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hispanic Outreach and Mexican Consulate Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church 120 Marydale Lane Columbia, SC 29210 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services and Walgreens 7412 Broad River Rd. Irmo, SC 29063 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday, June 29 Sandhills Medical Foundation H & J Hair Styling Center 800 Miller Road, No. 1 Sumter, SC 29150 10 a.m.–1 p.m.