In Berrien County, there are more than 200 people known to be living with HIV and about 25 percent more who are positive and do not know it.
In observance of National HIV Testing Day, CARES and the Berrien County  Health Department will be co-sponsoring a free testing and health screening event in support of and collaboration with community partners. This event offers free, 20-minute HIV testing, colon cancer screening kits and cholesterol and blood pressure screenings. It will be held at the Benton Harbor Street Ministry, 200 East Empire Ave., Benton Harbor Monday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 6 p.m.
National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign produced by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) to encourage individuals to learn their HIV status through voluntary HIV counseling and testing. National Testing Day is observed on June 27 of each year.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one person out of five living with HIV in the U.S. is unaware of their HIV status. National Testing Day is an opportunity for people nationwide to learn their HIV status and gain knowledge to help them take control of their health and their lives.
Other participating partners include Lakeland Health Specialties, United Way of Southwest Michigan, Bethel Christian Restoration Center, Benton Harbor Street Ministry, The OutCenter, Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency and a host of community volunteers. In addition to health screenings, food and other giveaways will be available.
HIV counseling and testing enables people with HIV to take steps to protect their own health and that of their partners, and helps people who test negative get the information they need to remain healthy. For additional information on this event or general HIV information, contact Willie Mitchell, at (269) 927-2437 ext. 23.