City Of Philadelphia: Mayor's Office Of Black Male Engagement Hosts HIV Testing Event: Know Your Status

Press release from the City of Philadelphia:

June 29, 2021

PHILADELPHIA — The Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement (OBME), in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, Ambulatory Health Services, is hosting an HIV Testing Event on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Philadelphia City Health Center 5, located at 1900 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19121.

In Philadelphia, reducing new HIV infections and improving health outcomes for People Living with HIV (PLWH) remains a challenge. Despite steady declines, Philadelphia is one of 48 counties in the U.S. with the highest number of new HIV diagnoses. “Racism, in conjunction with poverty,  is one of the drivers of health disparities in Philadelphia. Structural racism threatens the sense of physical safety and increases stress responses, which research shows negatively impacts health over time,” said Eric Westbrook, Director of Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement.

In accordance with Philadelphia’s strategic four-tiered (diagnose, treat, prevent, respond) Ending HIV Epidemic (EHE) plan, the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement is committed to working actively with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH)  to address and eliminate the gaps in care, resources, and services that perpetuate disproportionately negative health outcomes for our city’s black-identified communities.

 Testing Event Details

Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Philadelphia City Health Center 5, 1900 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Resources:

• www.phillykeeponloving.com for testing and prevention resources
• www.hivphilly.org for HIV case management (hotline for statistics/surveillance, partner services, 1-800-985-2437)

Contacts: 

• Mayla H. Jackson, MPH, HIV Program Administrator, mayla.jackson@phila.gov 
• Eric Westbrook, Director of Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement,  Eric.Westbrook@Phila.gov 

While we recognize the significance of opportunities for action and reflection such as this month’s National HIV Testing Day (observed annually on June 27), it remains essential for our communities to remain vigilant throughout the year to address disparities in the continuum of HIV care.

This press release was produced by the City of Philadelphia.The views expressed here are the author’s own.