APICHA Offers 5-Day HIV Testing To Mark World AIDS Day

Contact: Aleli Alvarez – 646 884-5373

New York City, November 12, 2008 – A 5-day special HIV testing event will be offered by the Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS (APICHA) to mark this year’s World AIDS Day.  Free rapid HIV tests which make results available in 20 minutes will be available from 10:30 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening at APICHA’s primary care clinic on 400 Broadway (entrance on 70 Walker Street), in Manhattan.  Those who access the services during the week will receive a gift.  The clinic will also make available, by appointment only, low-cost STD testing and HIV medical care.  A program to remember those who have died from AIDS will be held on December 1 at noon.

Rapid HIV tests are available on walk-in basis; all other services are provided by appointment only, by calling 212-334-6029.

“World AIDS Day presents a great opportunity to take action by getting tested for HIV,” points out Dr. Robert Murayama, Chief Medical Officer of APICHA.  “Prevention from HIV infection starts with knowing one’s status.  Taking that critical step may lead to a pathway of safe sexual behavior.  Here in NY, those who are diagnosed with HIV infection have access to life-saving treatment and medical care.  We are fortunate to offer these services to those who need them.”

While more Asians and Pacific Islanders (A&PI) are now accessing HIV tests, the numbers remain low compared to other populations groups. The NYCDOHMH (2008) has stated that A&PI New Yorkers (19%) are less likely to have had an HIV test than African Americans/Blacks (40%) and Hispanics (39%).  Only 6% of Asian adults reported that their doctor recommended an HIV test in the past year. There are misperceptions among that A&PIs that may contribute to the low testing numbers.  Many believe HIV/AIDS does not affect these communities.  There is also strong stigma attached to the disease preventing people from accessing medical care.

The 2008 report from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is a wake up call:  “Although Asian/Pacific Islanders’ rate of new diagnoses per 100,000 population is by far the lowest of the groups examined, it is also the only one that has actually been rising rather than falling through much of the study period, from 10.9 in 2001 to 11.9 in 2005.”  This trend is also reflected in national reports.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “A&PI females and males had the only statistically significant increases when measuring estimated annual percentage change in HIV diagnoses rates, 14.3 and 8.1 respectively”  Equally alarming is that the report indicated an astounding 255.6% increase from 2001 to 2006) in HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates among A&PI Young Men who have Sex with Men aged 13-24 years, the largest percentage increase among risk groups.