Know Your Status this National HIV Testing Day

National HIV Testing Day is on Thursday, June 27, 2019, and will take place at testing sites in 70 communities across the country. The goal of HIV Testing Day is to help individuals know their status, reduce stigma, and increase prevention, treatment, and education of HIV.

Nine Circles Community Health Centre will be open for testing at 705 Broadway from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Stop by, get tested & enter our social media contest for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!

8 reasons to get tested for HIV/STBBIs:

(STBBI= Sexually Transmitted & Blood-Borne Infections)

1. 1. If you are sexually active, it’s encouraged to get tested for HIV at least every 5 years.
   2. Do you know your current HIV status?  If not, get tested.
   3. Do you talk with the people you hook up with about whether or not they get tested?  If either of you hasn’t been tested lately, now might be a good time.
   4. If you’ve ever shared any drug equipment, or you have sex while you’re high, update your status with a test.
   5. If your partner is HIV positive, get tested and find out how to maintain a great sex life while preventing transmission.
   6. If you’re thinking of getting pregnant, get tested to keep yourself, your partner, and your baby healthy.
   7. Get tested if you or your partner(s) have any reason to think you might have an STI (symptoms, a partner has told you about an STI they have, or a health nurse has asked you to get tested.)
   8. Being tested for HIV and STIs is an important part of routine self-care.

When you come in for testing, the process is simple and tailored to you. The STI Testing Nurse you meet with will do an initial assessment and then they may do a physical exam and a combination of blood, urine or swabs may be taken. There will be an option available for rapid HIV testing, which gives results in under a minute. Most sexually transmitted and blood borne infections can be cured. Other STBBIs can be managed with treatment so that people can live normal, fulfilling lives. Learn more about testing and treatment.

Nine Circles offers a wide range of free services and resources for people who are HIV positive. We offer non-judgmental support to help those with HIV thrive in their individual lives and in their communities.

Undetectable = Untransmissible

New science in HIV treatment has given us the revelation of U=U (Undetectable=Untransmissible). This means that when a person living with HIV is taking their prescribed medication, their viral load can be suppressed low enough that the virus is undetectable in their bloodstream. Being undetectable means that it is not possible for you to pass HIV to a partner through sexual contact. An undetectable viral load will reduce your risk for transmission related to injection drug use, but more studies need to be done to determine if it’s zero risk. HIV transmission risk is high when sharing drug equipment like needles and cookers. Everything new, every time is the best way to reduce your risk.

 

National Testing Day Sites in Manitoba

The following sites will be open for HIV testing on Thursday, June 27, 2019.