HIV Testing and Education Events for Girls and Women HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR) has planned several events to encourage women and girls to be tested for HIV/AIDS in recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is March 10, 2011.

HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue that affects women and girls as well as men.  Nearly 280,000 women and adolescent girls in the United States are infected with the HIV virus. In the Memphis metro area, more than one in three people newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS is female, which is much higher than the national average. African American women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25 to 34.

Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region is observing National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day this week by offering opportunities for women and girls to learn about the virus and get tested.

• Monday, March 14th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., PPGMR offers free community HIV testing and prevention counseling for women, men and teens at Caritas Coffee Shop, 2509 Harvard Avenue. (Testing available while supplies last).
  
• Tuesday, March 15th, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at PPGMR’s health center at 2430 Poplar Avenue, our health educators are offering educational sessions for teens ages 13 and up. These informal “teen clinic” sessions offer young people the chance to learn the facts about sexuality and how to prevent infections and unplanned pregnancies in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Parents and youth group leaders are welcome!

No appointment is needed for any of the events listed above. For more information, please call (901) 725-1717.

Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR), founded in 1938, is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. PPGMR’s mission is to ensure broad public access to reproductive and related health care through clinic services, education, advocacy and community partnerships in serving 42 counties in West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas.