Las Memorias Is Part of National HIV Testing Week

As part of National HIV Testing Week, which began today, Highland Park's will be hosting a free-HIV testing event on Wednesday, June 29 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at their 111 N. Ave. 56 location.

According to Humberto Franco, Programs Coordinator at Wall-Las Memorias Project, the event will feature music and refreshments, in addition to free and confidential testing. Results will be available within half-an hour.

Los Angeles County's "Erase Doubt" project will also be on hand to provide additional resources.

"HIV is not a death sentence anymore. There are medications available and people are living longer lives and healthier lives with HIV than previously thought possible," Franco said. "The sooner people find out, the better. You don't want to be diagnosed on your death bed."

Free testing is available every day at Wall-Las Memorias. Walk in patients are welcome between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and between 3  and 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Appointments can be scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.

To find more testing locations around Highland Park and Mount Washington, go to http://www.hivtest.org/ and enter "90042" or "90065."

National HIV Testing week was established by the National Association of People with AIDS to increase voluntary testing.

According to the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, 75,114 people in Los Angeles County had been reported as living with HIV or AIDS as of December 31, 2010, of whom 42,364 were reported as living with HIV.