June 27 is National HIV Testing Day
Today, June 27, marks the National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) and this year’s observance is the 23th since its inception on June 27, 1995.
According to CDC.gov, this campaign is observed annually to encourage people to voluntarily get tested for HIV. The 2018 NHTD theme is “Doing It My Way, Testing for HIV,” which simply means that we can know our HIV status and get tested the way we want to. There are various ways to get tested now after all, whichever means we find the easiest or ones that we are most comfortable with.
Today, we can get tested for HIV in the comfort of our homes if that’s what we prefer. We can do it alone or we can also visit a clinic, go to a testing event, or visit our local organization or a health care provider with friends and/or family.
But who can get tested? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone aged 13 to 64 be tested for HIV “at least once as part of routine health care.” Those who are more at risk of HIV however, must get tested at least once a year while sexually active gay and bisexual men are advised to get tested every 3 to 6 months.
You may find HIV testing and other services below:
- HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator
- https://gettested.cdc.gov/
- text your ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948), or
- call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)
Why is it important to get tested? For one, information can save lives and secondly, because to this day, the rate of new HIV infections continue to rise in other parts of the world. In United States however, the annual rate of new HIV diagnoses dropped by 5% from 2011 to 2015. CDC reported that in 2016, 39,782 people in the US received an HIV diagnosis.
Will you get tested today or perhaps you did it earlier this month? Let’s hear your story on Instagram and use the hashtags #adam4adam and #HIVTestingDay, we will feature EVERYONE in our story and share some love, so make sure you follow us at @adam4adamofficial.
I think the last time I fucked bareback (top or bottom) was in late 1982. In early 1983, I developed a very high fever, so high, I checked myself into the E.R. at St. Vincents Hospital in Greenwich Village, NYC. I recall after explaining my burning fever to the nurse, she asked me if I was gay; instinctively, and since I was and remain to this day hidden in the closet, I said no, but knew enough to realize why she was asking me that. So I quickly changed my answer and asked why. She said “because you might have AIDS.” I freaked out, balling in tears. The hospital then administered a test and told me I had a low white blood cell count, but no indication of AIDS (HIV wasn’t really identified back then – you just assumed you went right into full-blown AIDS). They gave me these injections in both my hips and sent me home, which was a good thing, because St. Vincents was known to have this “dungeon” of sorts where they housed AIDS patients. Long story longer is, I never got AIDS (or HIV). And to this day, I’m still unclear what it meant that I had a low white blood cell count at that time; also was unclear what those hip injections were for. All I cared about was I was fine. I’d continue my closeted life as a bi male living in the very gay West Village in the ’80s, get married (wife), have kids, go suburban, and fast forward to the present day, I continue to have my happy marriage, my happy under-life of having gay sex when I can get it (still just as discreetly as ever), but above all else, never putting anything to chance. I get tested 1-2 times a year, I’m healthy, I don’t harm anyone in my family, and I thoroughly enjoy my double-life.
Good Matt, keep on being healthy and happy to know that you are still negative even after that incident in the 80s.
Have a good night!
Dave
Thanks Dave. What’s your story?
I have my first sexual experience with a Gay man four years ago ( i was 16 years old, he was 43 ) I ask him if he is hiv negative and he told me yes he is, we have unprotected sex, few months later I found out that I’m HIV positive. I urge young gay mens to protect yourselves when you have sex with “strangers” Thank you