By Greg Hernandez
To help people become aware of their HIV status, Shanti Orange County
is for the first time offering on-site HIV testing at its Laguna Hills
headquarters every Friday afternoon from 2-5 p.m.
The test, which is 99.3 percent accurate, is free, and the results are available in 20 minutes.
"The nice thing about coming to a place like Shanti is it's not a
medical facility," says Sarah Kasman, Shanti OC Executive Director.
"It's not somebody's primary physician, so they don't have to notify
their insurance company. It can be completely anonymous."
Kasman wants to get the word out about the free and anonymous
testing, because if someone is HIV-positive, the sooner they know and
get treatment, the better their health and quality of life.
"What's really important now is that people can remain undetectable
with HIV for a lifetime if they get tested early, if they get into
medical and pharmaceutical treatment right away," she says. "Not only is
it not a death sentence, but it's a completely manageable disease if
detected early, if treated early. People identified as HIV-positive
really can help in their own care and manage the disease."
While Shanti is now offering on-site testing for the first time, its other HIV-related services have long been in place.
"The best part of it is if they test positive, they can segue right
into our case management and our mental health services as well as our
post-diagnosis education program," Kasman says.
The weekly on-site testing became possible through a partnership with
The Center OC in Santa Ana, which has had testing for more than 20
years. The addition of Shanti gives South County residents a facility
closer to home.
"We just didn't have the funding for it, and now we have the
partnership, so we are just absolutely thrilled," says Kasman. "We used
to refer to other testing sites all the time. Now we don't have to."
She says the group at highest risk for HIV in Orange County right now
is those aged 13 to 24, who prefer anonymous testing for a variety of
reasons.
But South County has long been in need of more testing sites.
"We know that in the South County corridor, other than Laguna Beach
Community Clinic, there's no other testing going on in South
County—specifically anonymous HIV testing," Kasman says. "We are really
offering it up to people in South County to come in. They don't have to
make a reservation, and it's free. We have the relationships and
resources to link them to all the services available in Orange County.
Shanti OC is located at 23461 S. Pointe Drive #100, Laguna Hills.
The Center OC is located at 1605 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana. Its
testing hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m to 6 p.m.,
Tuesdays 1:30-6 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
For more information, or to make an appointment at either location,
call or email Josie Lopez at (714) 953-5428 x208
(josie.lopez@thecenteroc.org) or Tony Viramontes (714) 953-5428 x207
(antonio.viramontes@thecenteroc.org).
http://www.frontiersla.com/frontiers-blog/2013/03/21/shanti-oc-now-offers-on-site-hiv-testing