COME TO ROCKLAND'S WORLD AIDS DAY EVENT ON DECEMBER 3

Learn the facts about HIV/AIDS and get free, private and rapid testing

NEW CITY, NY - - Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce that the annual World AIDS Day event in Rockland will be held on Monday, December 3rd from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Rockland Community College, Technology Center, Room 3217, located at in 145 College Road in Suffern.

Free, private and rapid HIV testing will be available and you will receive your test results in 20 minutes.

If you have HIV, early treatment can help you live a longer, healthier life. You can also take steps to protect other people.

Come learn the facts about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) - the virus that can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Find out how HIV is spread, how it can be prevented, and the different services available for people with HIV or AIDS and their families.

"The World AIDS Day event in Rockland is a good chance to learn more about HIV and AIDS, get your questions answered, and get tested," said Dr. Ruppert.

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Often, people are not aware that they are infected, as you can have HIV and still feel healthy. It is important to get tested so you don't pass the infection to others. Many doctors and public health institutions, like the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the AIDS Institute, recommend testing everyone between ages 13 - 64. How often you get tested depends on your risk for HIV infection. Get tested regularly if you are sexually active or an IV drug user. HIV testing is especially important for pregnant women. An infected mother can pass HIV to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or through breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and have HIV, treatment is available for your own health and to prevent passing HIV to your baby.

Visit http://bit.ly/2zIHIOo or call 845-364-2570 to find out about other times and places in Rockland where you can get tested for HIV.

For more information about HIV and AIDS and other test locations in New York State, visit the New York State Department of Health website at www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/ or call 1-800-541-AIDS. For more information about World AIDS Day visit www.worldaidsday.org.