AHF’s New Retro Pod Streamlines Free HIV Testing
27 June 2024 - 4:59AM
Business Wire
State-of-the-art, solar powered, and
self-contained Care-a-Van makes HIV and STI testing even more
efficient and accessible on national HIV Testing Day
Media Availability and Live Shot Location: West
Hollywood, Thursday June 27th starting at 6:00 a.m.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is making its free HIV and
sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services even more
efficient and accessible just in time for National HIV Testing Day
on June 27, 2024. AHF’s new Care-a-Van pod – believed to be the
first of its kind anywhere—is a solar powered, completely
self-contained unit with two testing rooms.
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AHF's first new state-of-the-art
Care-a-Van testing pod will be unveiled on Thursday, June 27 (Nat'l
HIV Testing Day) in West Hollywood, CA. The solar-powered,
self-contained pod has 2 testing rooms and was designed by AHF and
paid for by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in
an effort to improve HIV and STI testing. (Photo: Business
Wire)
The retro looking, Airstream-like trailer was designed by AHF
and paid for by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
AHF plans to tow and park the pod semi-permanently in certain
targeted high traffic/high risk areas like West Hollywood along
Santa Monica Boulevard and at large community gatherings like Pride
celebrations and music festivals.
WHAT:
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: AHF launches new,
state-of-the-art mobile HIV & STI testing pod
WHEN:
Thursday, June 27th 6:00 a.m. to 10:00
a.m. for National HIV Testing Day (June 27th)
WHERE:
In front of Bank of America 8921 W. Santa
Monica Blvd. (corner Hilldale Ave.) West Hollywood, CA 90069
WHO:
AHF Public Health Division staff
B-ROLL:
Tours of the new testing pod and HIV
testing demonstrations
“The new pods will be far cheaper than AHF’s traditional mobile
HIV testing units, far less likely to break down, and less
susceptible to catalytic converter theft as they have no
traditional motor,” said Alex Goncalves, Senior Director,
AHF’s Public Health Division. “Solar panels on the roof power the
pod and its equipment, and AHF was fortunate to be able to register
on the First Responders’ cell network so we can remain connected in
high cellphone traffic areas. We also can do additional STI testing
on these pods, an important added benefit, given the rise in
syphilis and other STIs, including those that may require a blood
draw.”
Rates of STIs have continued to increase sharply over the past
three years, including in Los Angeles County.
According to the CDC, “There were over 2.5 million reported
cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia in 2022. Syphilis cases
increased 80 percent in the past five years and congenital syphilis
increased an alarming 937 percent in the past decade.”
According to LA County Division of HIV and STD Programs, in
2021, 1,518 people in LA County were newly diagnosed with HIV, up
from 1,414 persons in 2020. At the time of diagnoses, eight percent
were classified as having acute HIV (i.e., infected within 60 days
prior to HIV diagnosis) and 19% were classified as having
late-stage HIV.
In its announcement accompanying the release of the 2022 STI
statistics, the CDC noted, “We cannot continue to use decades-old
prevention strategies to address today’s STI epidemic. People need
testing and treatment to meet them where they are. We know
treatment is not always received in traditional healthcare
settings. We must continue supporting opportunities and initiatives
that enhance and expand STI service delivery, care, monitoring,
research, and training.”
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest
HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine
and advocacy to more than 2 million individuals in 47 countries in
the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region,
and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at
AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and
Twitter, and subscribe to our Ahfter Hours podcast.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240626751852/en/
Ged Kenslea, AHF Senior Communications Director 323.791.5526
ged.kenslea@ahf.org