Free HIV testing offered Aug. 20 at El-Ada office

El-Ada Community Action Partnership will offer free HIV screenings in Mountain Home on Wednesday Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. until noon.

There are no needle sticks or blood involved with the screening. An oral sample is taken from the gum line and results are read in 20 minutes.

The screening is confidential.

Free condoms and safer sex products also will be provided and are available free at El-Ada on an on-going basis.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of persons infected with HIV in Idaho is on the rise. In Idaho, 21 percent of all persons infected with HIV are women and 79 percent are men. A total of 14 percent of infections were through heterosexual contact. Nationwide 25 percent of people infected have not been diagnosed and do not know they have HIV. The CDC recommends that everyone get tested for HIV on an annual basis.

For more information about the screening process, HIV in Idaho or safer sex practices call Annie Clayville Kujawski or Kituta Asimba at El-Ada Community Action Partnership at 345-8994.