HIV infection rates are still on the rise in Ohio and across the country. On this 25th annual World AIDS Day, health officials urge testing and education to stop new cases from developing.
17,000 people in Ohio are known to be HIV positive, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 people with HIV don’t even know they’re infected, so the problem is much worse.
That would raise Ohio's HIV infection rate to more than 20,000. Bill Hardy with AIDS Resource Center Ohio says “66% of all new infections continue to be among young, gay, and bisexual males, and even more young, gay, bisexual males of color."
Medical professionals are still pinning their hopes on developing an HIV prevention drug, if not an outright cure, but Hardy says science has come a long way in managing the disease.
"With the treatment we have now,” he says, “there's a very good chance that HIV positive Americans will have a near normal life expectancy, and if we get them into care and get the virus under control, the chance or likelihood of transmitting the virus is almost zero, it's reduced by up to 96%."
But getting that treatment has not been easy for patients. A Kaiser Family Foundation study finds that 30% of HIV infected people are uninsured. Hardy says he hopes the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion will fill the gap in services. Meanwhile, he says awareness is key; get tested.
ARC Ohio provides more than 4,000 free HIV tests every year.
HIV Testing Sites - Locations & Hours (Compiled by Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County.
AIDS Resource Center Ohio
15 W. Fourth Street, Suite 200 / Dayton, OH 45402 • (937) 461-2437 Regular testing hours - Monday: 11:00 am - 6:30 pm
Butler County Health Department
301 S. Third Street, Hamilton, OH 45011 • (513) 863-1770 Regular hours – Second Tuesday of each month 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Miami County Public Health Department Reproductive Health Clinic 510 W. Water Street, Troy, OH 45373 • (937) 723-9341 Walk-ins every Thursday: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Mt. Olive “One Stop” Center
502 Pontiac Street, Dayton, OH 45417 • (937) 723-9341
Regular hours - Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm* (*The last two weeks of the month only)
Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Mary Stark Center 11 Ludlow Street, Hamilton, OH 45011 • (513) 856-8332 Regular hours – Third Monday of each month 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Preble County General Health District - Reproductive Health Clinic 615 Hillcrest Drive / Eaton, OH 45320 • (513) 856-8332 Regular testing hours (By appointment): 4th Tuesday of each month: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Wednesdays: 9:00 am - 11:00 am 4th Tuesday of each month: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County Clinics
Public Health Clinic 117 S. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45422 • (937) 225-4550 Regular testing hours - (By appointment only) Monday - Friday: 8:00 am -11:30 am & 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Public Health Outreach Office 201 Riverside Drive, Suite 1-C, Dayton, OH 45405 • (937) 496-7133 Regular testing hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Dr. Charles R, Drew Health Center 1323 W. Third Street, Room 608, Dayton, OH 45402 • (937) 225-4023 Regular testing hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Warren County Health Department - STD Clinic
416 South East Street, Lebanon, OH 45036 • (513) 695-1229
In recognition of World AIDS Day, testing on December 4 8:00 am - 11:30 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Call for your appointment now!)
Regular testing hours (By appointment): Thursdays: 7:30 am - 9:00 am
For more testing sites near you, call 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636), visit
http://hivtest.cdc.gov, or, on your cell phone, text your ZIP code to KNOW IT (566948)
