Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department (BLDHD), in partnership with the Northern Michigan Public Health Alliance, is promoting National HIV Testing Day.
National HIV Testing Day is an annual event to raise awareness of the importance of knowing one’s HIV status and encourage at-risk individuals to receive an HIV test.
In the United States, over 36,000 new HIV infections occur each year; about 13% are unaware of their infection and need testing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Getting tested and knowing your status is the first step to protecting your health,” said Dr. Joshua Meyerson, BLDHD Medical Director. “If you have HIV, getting medical care and taking medications as prescribed helps improve your quality and length of life, while lowering your chances of passing it on to others.”
In addition to free and confidential HIV testing, BLDHD offers free testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C.
Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling 231-882-4409. Learn more about our STI testing program at https://www.bldhd.org.
