News
Whittier Street Health Center Hosts National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, September 27
In recognition of National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (taking place tomorrow, September 27), Whittier Street Health Center will be providing a Resource Table in the Main Lobby (at 1290 Tremont Street in Roxbury) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., as well as offering Free Sexual Health Screenings and HIV Testing, available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., on Tuesday, September 27. The screenings and testing will also be available at the 1290 Tremont Street location.
Members of the media looking to gain more information about National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and/or speak with a medical professional are welcome to attend, or to contact Nicole Hales at nhales@prfirst.com or 617-947-7983.
National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a day to help end HIV stigma and encourage HIV testing, prevention, and treatment among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Observed each year on September 27, the day allows us to reflect on the continuing and disproportionate impact that HIV has had on gay and bisexual men over the past three decades and remember those we have lost, as well as to acknowledge the many contributions of gay and bisexual men, including their tireless activism on behalf of those at risk for and living with HIV.
Of the estimated 36,400 new HIV infections in the United States in 2018, 67% (24,400) were among gay and bisexual men. Among these men, racial and ethnic differences exist, with the highest disparity found among Black and Latino gay and bisexual men. Compared to 2014, in 2018, new HIV infections were down 20% among white gay and bisexual men and remained stable among Black and Latino gay and bisexual men.
Location:
Whittier Street Health Center
1290 Tremont Street
Roxbury
Tuesday, September 27, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (resource table) and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (free sexual health screenings and HIV testing)
For additional information, please contact Nicole Hales at nhales@prfirst.com or 617-947-7983.
About Whittier Street Health Center
Whittier Street Health Center is an independently licensed community health care center with a mission of providing high quality, reliable and accessible primary healthcare for diverse populations while promoting wellness and eliminating health and social disparities. A champion of equitable access to high quality, patient-focused care, social justice and economic equity, Whittier Street Health Center is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized by the NCQA for its Behavioral Health Integration. Through its locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, and its Mobile Health Van program, Whittier Street Health Center serves more than 30,000 patients and 20,000 community outreach visits annually; its ethnically and racially diverse patient base is primarily made up of individuals from Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, the South End and greater Boston. Approximately 28% of Whittier’s patients are uninsured. Whittier Street Health Center provides a comprehensive array of 40 healthcare programs and services designed to meet the primary health care, behavioral health, and social needs of the community. For more information, please visit www.wshc.org as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhittierStreetHealthCenter), Twitter (@Whittier_Boston), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/whittier-street-health-center), or call 617-989-3221.