The National HIV Testing Day is recognized on June 27 and Castle Country Radio was able to speak over the telephone with HIV Community Engagement Specialist, Ervin Simmons, to get some information about the topic.

“So HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and essentially it’s a disease that attacks the immune system, and in doing that it makes it more difficult for the body to fight off diseases. If HIV is left untreated, then it can eventually progress to AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,” explained Simmons. Please understand that HIV and AIDS are two separate diagnoses.

National HIV Testing Day is observed every year to highlight the importance of HIV testing. “So I would recommend along with the CDC recommendation, that everyone go and get tested for HIV and know their status. So if you have a negative result then there are different tools you can take advantage of to maintain your negative status,” said Simmons. If you do get a negative result you should speak with your primary care physician to discuss HIV prevention medicines.

“If you get a positive test back, what is going to happen is, there will be a second test run, and if that test is also positive, its important to get engaged in care. Once you are engaged in care, you’ll be prescribed a medication called Antiretroviral Therapy or ART. People who take ART, as they are prescribed and they’re doing what their physician is telling them to do, they can expect to live a long, happy, and healthy life, equivalent to somebody who is not living with HIV,” stated Simmons. If you do get a positive result, you will be working closely with your primary care physician to discuss your options.

“So if you visit https://hivandme.com/ that has a bunch of information about HIV, also information about other illnesses that are commonly associated with HIV, like other STIs, we have information about COVID-19 up there. So there is a bunch of different resources and information. Resources regarding on how to get engaged and secure, whether that’s getting tested at a provider, getting PREP, or getting ART if you are HIV and all that can be found on our website,” said Simmons. Individuals can find information about prevention, testing, treatment, resources and HIV & wellness.