June 20, 2005

The African-American State of Emergency Task Force, Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) and OraSure Technologies, Inc. will offer free HIV tests June 24 to observe National HIV Testing Day.

Testing will be offered from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at:

• Sharpstown Mall, 7500 Bellaire Boulevard
• Northline Mall, 4400 North Freeway
• Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 4605 Wilmington Street
• Shrine of the Black Madonna, 5309 Martin Luther King Blvd
• Sugar Brach Condominiums, 10110 Forum Park
• NAACP Technology Center, 4203 Fannin Street
• Bershea’s Beauty Supply / Ravens Hair Salon, 10339 Club Creek

African-Americans represent 55 percent of the 11,311 HIV infections reported to HDHHS since 1999. They also make up 38 percent of the 22,367 local AIDS cases reported to HDHHS since the start of the epidemic in 1981.

For more information, call 713-794-9169.

Note: National HIV Testing Day is June 27, but the groups will sponsor the tests three days early.