With a theme of “It’s Better to Know,” the 10th annual National HIV Testing Day will be observed by hundreds of organizations and agencies across the United States on Sunday,
June 27.

The University of Houston will mark the observance with free anonymous and confidential HIV testing for faculty, staff and students at the Health Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 25. Additionally, Wellness Center staff will distribute educational materials about HIV and AIDS from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University Center and at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

An annual campaign produced by the National Association of People with AIDS, National HIV Testing Day encourages at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.
However, UH officials hope that all faculty, staff and students take advantage of the free HIV testing as well.

“Everyone should get tested,” said Gail Gillan, Wellness Center director. “The day really is about HIV prevention and learning how to take care of yourself.”

Pam Hoffmeister, the Health Center’s head nurse, agreed.

“We would love to see more people get tested,” she said. “Early detection is very important. The sooner the virus is diagnosed, the better chance the infected person has of living a longer and healthier life.”

Hoffmeister expects about 100 people, mostly students, to visit the center for HIV testing on June 25. However, that’s not the only day the center offers the test. Free HIV testing is available also on Dec. 1 for World AIDS Day and daily for a $15 fee year-round, Hoffmeister said.

Prior to testing, the center’s staff will counsel each patient, discussing the infection and its risk factors. Results are given during a post-counseling session in the Health Center within 24 to 72 hours. If the test is positive, the center will perform additional testing to determine how much damage the virus has caused, Hoffmeister explained. The center’s staff gives pre- and post-test counseling to all who test.

“If a person tests HIV-positive, Floyd Robinson, the Health Center’s director, or I will talk to him or her,” Hoffmeister said. “There are a lot of tears and hugs.”

The Health Center provides referrals to infectious disease specialists, and a Health Center staff member accompanies patients to the appointments as a patient advocate.

“We’re there to hold their hand. We want them to lean on us,” she said. “Oftentimes, we are the only persons to know the patient’s positive status,” she added.

The Health Center began HIV testing more than 14 years ago and began offering the free screenings 10 years ago. The center now tests more than 800 people annually, according to Hoffmeister said.

“We give HIV positive results to three to four patients each year,” she added.

She noted that the Health Center is testing more heterosexual African-American females, Hispanics and Asians, noting that the HIV infection rate is rising among certain minorities and youth across the United States.

From 1998 through 2002, AIDS incidence steadily decreased among whites and Hispanics; however, AIDS incidence increased among blacks, Asians/Pacific Islanders and American Indians/Alaska natives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Additionally, it has been estimated that at least half of all new HIV infections in the nation are among people under 25 years old, the CDC reports.

Hoffmeister credits the increase of testing among minorities to a nationwide effort by the CDC, nonprofit agencies and city and state governments to prevent the spread of HIV among people of color. She also said stories in the news media and on television shows such as “Oprah” have helped bring more attention to HIV and AIDS.

“The message that testing is important is getting out,” Hoffmeister said. “On a college campus, that same message is important because in many cases students are having sex but are not protecting themselves.”

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu