St. Maarten AIDS Foundation invites the public to take a free and confidential HIV test at the upcoming 7th Annual Lion’s Rudy Hoeve Health & Wellness Fair, Saturday March 21st, from 9am to 4pm at the Festival Village.
Regular HIV testing is recommended for everyone, as an HIV infection can stay hidden for a number of years. The test takes a very small amount of blood from a finger and returns the result in less than 15 minutes. The tests are anonymous and linked to the person only by a one-time identifier.
Volunteers from the American University of the Caribbean will assist with pre-test counseling and testing, and community volunteers who signed up through SXM DOET will give information, hand out free condoms and guide people through the different testing stations.
“HIV testing is an excellent opportunity to take stock of your health and a chance to learn more about staying safe”, said AIDS Foundation President, Dr. Gerard van Osch. “The Lion’s Fair is always a fun and festive event, and we hope that everyone takes some time to visit the various booths and stop by to take an HIV test. If you have not done it before, now is the time to start taking control of your health. If you have taken it in the past, now is the time to update your status”.
More information about HIV testing can be found at www.sxmaidsfoundation.org, and on its Facebook page: sxmaidsfoundation.