June 27 is National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) and in an effort to bring awareness to the day, HOPE Inc. is collaborating with the local Chapter of The Balm In Gilead. During the month of June, the organizations will highlight this awareness day by bringing counseling and testing services to various churches in the St. Thomas/St. John District.
HOPE provided HIV, Cholesterol, Diabetes and Blood pressure screenings after church service to members of the St. John Pentecostal Church of God on Sunday, June 10. Free HIV counseling and testing were available and participants were given incentives for tests received.
The U.S. Virgin Islands currently rank first in per capita for HIV cases in the United States.
Although more and more persons are being diagnosed on a yearly basis, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States, which includes statistics for the USVI, 25 percent of the individuals infected with HIV are unaware of their HIV status.
Never before have the faith-based community, HOPE Inc., and the Balm in Gilead come together to create an approach to eradicate the HIV disease.
Other churches which have agreed to host these events are the International Gospel Center of St. Thomas, on June 17, the Word of Faith International Christian Center Association on June 24, and Asamblea Cristiana El Oasis on the evening of June 24.
For more information please contact Ivy Moses at 340-777-1611.
