Advertisement

Goal: 100 for HIV Testing Day

The CDC estimates that the lifetime risk that a black man who has sex with men will contract HIV is 1 in 2. Latino men who have sex with men have a lifetime risk of 1 in 4. And recently, a study from Emory University found the men who have sex with men have a rate of HIV infection 57.5 percent higher than other men in the U.S. Transwomen are 49 times more likely than any other group of women in the world to be infected with HIV.
"It's important to recognize that there is a health crisis, and it is a crisis," said Judi Brown Clarke, president of Lansing City Council and a featured emcee for a PrEP panel planned on June 25 at Spiral nightclub. "We all have a role to play in ending this epidemic."
AIDS Service Organizations and health departments across the state and the nation are gearing up to offer free and confidential HIV testing this coming week to mark National HIV Testing Day. A complete listing of events is available at Pridesource.com.
In Lansing, located in Ingham county, which has the second highest HIV prevalence rate in the state, the Lansing Area AIDS Network is gearing up for events on June 25. The official Testing Day is June 27.
In Lansing the agency will offer free and confidential HIV testing at Diversity Psychological Services, an office facility located within a block of the city's two gay bars.
"Our goal is to test 100 high risk individuals," said Dwayne Riley, prevention manager.
But the agency won't just be doing testing. It is also hosting a panel discussion about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) from 7 pm to 9 pm at Spiral Dance Club. The panel discussion will include individuals who are currently taking the medication – which is up to 99 percent effective in preventing an HIV-negative person from contracting the virus if it is taken daily — as well as Dr. Erik Wert. Wert is the medical director of the Ingham County Community Health Center and one of the only physicians in Ingham offering PrEP prescriptions.
Riley said that since January his agency has worked diligently to counsel clients who are HIV negative about PrEP and to refer them to Wert. Riley said his agency has run into roadblocks in locating physicians willing to write prescriptions for the drug.
"It's one of the biggest issues," he said. "In Ingham county there are not too many locations willing to prescribe PrEP."
He said one of the biggest issued in the prescription process is a lack of "culturally competent care to the meet the needs of the LGBT community and people of color."
Brown Clarke is not the only city councilmember participating in the testing day events. Jody Washington, whose ward covers the locations of the bars, will be there as well. She declined to comment, other than to note that she will be there to "help end the stigma." She sponsored a resolution last week honoring National HIV Testing Day. It passed unanimously by the City Council.

National HIV Testing Day Event In Lansing

4 p.m. to midnight — Free confidential HIV testing Diversity Psychological Services
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. — PrEP Panel Discussion at Spiral, facilitated by Lansing City Council President Judi Brown Clarke, and featuring Dr. Erik Wert, medical director of the Ingham County Community Health Centers.
4 p.m. to midnight — various events in Old Town including Spiral and Esquire to promoting testing and to raise funds for the Lansing Area AIDS Network
For More Information email Dwayne Riley [email protected], or 517 394 3719 ext. 130

Around Michigan

Several Michigan health departments and community-based organizations will provide HIV testing opportunities through mobile clinics, outreach bars, parks, churches and community-wide events now through the end of the month. Below is a list of sites throughout Michigan where you and your loved ones can get tested for HIV. For more information, call 800-872-AIDS or visit http://www.michigan.gov/hivstd.

Tuesday, June 21
Lenawee County Health Department
1040 S. Winter St.
Suite 2328
Adrian, MI 49221
8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 22
Livingston County Department of Public Health
2300 E. Grand River
Suite 102
Howell, MI 48843
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Appointments preferred, but walk-ins accepted.

Thursday, June 23
Gospel Against AIDS
Walgreens
501 South Ballenger Highway
Flint, MI 48532
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Unified
Walgreens
2170 Washtenaw
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Wellness Services, Inc.
Walgreens
2815 Davison Road
Flint, MI 48506
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Matrix Human Services
Walgreens
30852 Woodward Ave.
Royal Oak, MI 48073
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Friday, June 24
Gospel Against AIDS
Walgreens
501 South Ballenger Highway
Flint, MI 48532
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Unified
Walgreens
2170 Washtenaw
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Wellness Services, Inc.
Walgreens
2815 Davison Road
Flint, MI 48506
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Lenawee County Health Department
1040 S. Winter St.
Suite 2328
Adrian, MI 49221
8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 25
Gospel Against AIDS
Walgreens
501 South Ballenger Highway
Flint, MI 48532
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wellness Services, Inc.
Walgreens
2815 Davison Road
Flint, MI 48506
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wellness Services, Inc.
Flint Pride
311 E. Court St.
Flint, MI 48502
2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Mercy Health Prevention Practices
The Wheels of Mercy
Smith Ryerson Park
650 Wood St.
Muskegon, MI 49442
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Lansing Area AIDS Network
Diversity Psychological Services
1310 Turner St.
Lansing, MI 48906
4 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Lansing Area AIDS Network
PrEP Panel Discussion
Spiral Night Club
1427 Turner St.
Lansing, MI 48096
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Lansing Area AIDS Network
Red Party Fundraiser
Spiral Night Club
1427 Turner St.
Lansing, MI 48906
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Monday, June 27
Jackson County Health Department
Walgreens
1314 N. West Ave.
Jackson, MI 49202
1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Thomas Judd Care Center
Traverse City Mayor's Office
400 Boardman Ave.
Traverse City, MI 49684
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Jackson County Health Department
Walgreens
1314 N. West Ave.
Jackson, MI 49202
1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Barry-Eaton District Health Department
Barry County Office
330 W. Woodlawn Ave.
Hastings, MI 49058
12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Barry-Eaton District Health Department
Eaton County Office
1033 Health Care Drive
Charlotte, MI 48813
12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Genesee County Health Department
McCree South
630 S. Saginaw St.
Flint, MI 48502
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Genesee County Health Department
Burton
G-3373 S. Saginaw St.
Burton, MI 48529
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Van Buren Cass District Health Department
Hartford Clinic
57418 CR 681
Suite A
Hartford, MI 49057
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Van Buren Cass District Health Department
Dowagiac Clinic
302 S. Front St.
Dowagiac, MI 49047
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Kent County Health Department
South Clinic
4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
12:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Saginaw County Department of Public Health
1600 N. Michigan Ave.
Saginaw, MI 48602
8:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Health Delivery, Inc.
Bayside Health and Dental Center
3884 Monitor Road
Bay City, MI 48706
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Health Delivery, Inc.
Bridgeport Community Health and Dental Center
6297 Dixie Highway
Bridgeport, MI 48722
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Health Delivery, Inc.
Community Health Center
501 Lapeer Ave.
Saginaw, MI 48607
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Health Delivery, Inc.
Hearth Home Prevention and Outreach Center
732 Hoyt St.
Saginaw, MI 48601
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Health Delivery, Inc.
Janes Street Academic Community Health Center
1522 Janes Ave.
Saginaw, MI 48601
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Health Delivery, Inc.
Old Town Saginaw Community Health Center
804 S. Hamilton St.
Saginaw, MI 48602
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tuesday, June 28
Kent County Health Department
South Clinic
4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
12:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Wednesday, June 29
Genesee County Health Department
McCree South
630 S. Saginaw St.
Flint, MI 48502
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Kent County Health Department
South Clinic
4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
12:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, June 30
Van Buren Cass District Health Department
Woodlands Substance Abuse Clinic
960 E. State St.
Cassopolis, MI 49031
12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Friday, July 1
Kent County Health Department
South Clinic
4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
12:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Advertisement
Advertisement

From the Pride Source Marketplace

Go to the Marketplace
Directory default
Blumz by JRDesigns is a full service floral, wedding and event planning company with two full…
Learn More
Directory default
The Shelton & Deon Law Group provides clients the quality and depth of experience that is…
Learn More
Directory default
Serving the MSU and OU communities with financial services including checking, VISA, mortgages,…
Learn More
Directory default
Located in downtown Detroit, across from GM World Headquarters, Briggs Sports Bar is a popular…
Learn More
Advertisement