HIV Free Testing Day A Success in Columbia County

ALBANY, NY (06/29/2007)(readMedia)-- A great many people in Columbia County received important health information, as well as free HIV testing and counseling on National HIV Free Testing Day. Local testing was made available on Wednesday, June 27 at three locations in Hudson including Bliss Towers, Columbia County Health Clinic, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. Testing and counseling were also provided at the recently opened Columbia Café Co. in Valatie. A total of 54 individuals took advantage of the event—twice the number who participated in 2006 and four times the number who participated in the first coalition event in 2005.

“Lots of people put in a great deal of time on hot afternoons to spread flyers and postcards about the event throughout the local area,” stated Blue Carreker, Vice President for Public Affairs and Marketing at Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. “Local businesses allowed us to post flyers in their windows and leave postcards on their counters. Regional radio and tv stations aired our Public Service announcements and local newspapers carried details about the available testing. It was this widespread commitment and cooperation that made the day so successful!”

The Columbia County HIV Free Testing Day Coalition members include the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York, Columbia Café Co., Columbia County Department of Health, Columbia County Health Care Consortium, Columbia Opportunities, Hudson Housing Authority, New York State DOH Anonymous Testing Program, Twin County Recovery Center, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.