World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1st and was established by the World Health Organization in 1988. World AIDS Day is about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice, and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35. Around 95 percent of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

In the United States, 1 in every 300 individuals is HIV infected. 1 in 4 people living with HIV don't know they are infected. Every hour 7 people are diagnosed with HIV (2 of these are teenagers). Every 13 minutes someone is infected with HIV. Every 34 minutes someone dies of AIDS.

We recommend you test for HIV if:

• You have never tested.
• You have done drugs and shared needles.
• You have had more than one sexual partner in the last year, and have had unprotected sex.
• Your partner has not been tested and you have had unprotected sex with them.

For Kaiser Permanente members, testing can be done at any Kaiser Permanente laboratory without a physician referral. You may additionally test for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at the same time. Call (707) 393-4837 to make an appointment or to receive results.

Free testing is available through the County of Sonoma, Department of Health Services. They are located at:
Public Health Clinical Services
3420 Chanate Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Please call to schedule an appointment.
(707) 545-4820