Free Testing, Counseling Offered To Mark World AIDS Day
ONEONTA – To mark World AIDS Day, Family Planning of South Central New York is offering free, confidential rapid HIV testing and counseling daily through Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at its 37 Dietz St. offices.
The rapid HIV test is a painless finger prick for a drop of blood. Results are ready in 20 minutes. Patients will receive counseling on how to identify and reduce their risk of HIV infection.
Debra Marcus, Family Planning CEO, remarked that over the last decade, New York State has seen a 40 percent decrease in new HIV cases and that Governor Cuomo has set a goal of ending the AIDS epidemic in NY by 2020. “We fully support Governor Cuomo’s bold initiative to end the AIDS epidemic by 2020, and Family Planning is doing everything we can as an organization to support this initiative. Learning your HIV status is critical to protecting your own health as well as that of others. When people know they’re infected, they can get health care and medications to keep themselves healthy for years. In addition, they can prevent further spread of the disease,” Marcus said.
Testing and counseling is also offered at:
- 117 Hawley Street, Binghamton: Monday-Friday 9:00AM-4:00PM
- 5 Cortland Street, Norwich: Monday-Friday 12:00PM-4:00PM
- 37 Pleasant Street, Sidney: Thursday 10:00AM-4:00PM
- 130 North Street, Walton: Wednesday 9:00AM-4:00PM