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National HIV Testing Day is Sunday

Whitman-Walker Clinic to offer free services in greater D.C. area

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Nationwide, more than 1 million people are living with HIV. Yet up to 250,000 are unaware that they’re HIV-positive, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. For those unaware of their status or due for what experts recommend as a yearly test, this weekend is the perfect time to get tested as Sunday is National HIV Testing Day. Several local events are planned.

Washington’s Whitman-Walker Clinic will sponsor free and confidential rapid testing and outreach events today through Tuesday. Rapid testing uses a quick finger prick to obtain a small sample of blood and offers results within 20 minutes.

Pernell Williams, community outreach manager for Whitman-Walker, suggests routine testing.

“The CDC recommends getting tested every six to 12 months,” he says.

In 1995, the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) launched the annual campaign “in response to the growing number of HIV infections in communities of color and other heavily impacted communities.” Each year on June 27th NAPWA works with thousands of community-based organizations, businesses and health departments to encourage routine HIV testing and to spread the message to “Take the Test, Take Control.”

Although National HIV Testing Day effectively puts the issue into the spotlight, Williams believes the best way to promote testing is by word of mouth. “The power behind days like this is when community members talk to their friends, family, coworkers and associates about getting tested,” Williams says. “It’s about the involvement of family and friends who can gain the ear of those people who need to hear it most.”

For those who may be afraid to get tested, Williams assures that their fear is “absolutely normal.”

“I haven’t met a single person who was not afraid to get tested and who did not catch their breath when they were about to hear the results,” he says.

“The struggle is to let the desire to survive supersede the unease. Know that if you discover your status is positive, the best way to guarantee survival is to get treatment, which you can only get after a diagnosis,” he says. “An HIV-positive diagnosis is a scary thing for a lot of people, but without a doubt it saves lives.”

For those who test positive, Whitman-Walker offers the resources necessary to understand the diagnosis and lay out a plan of action to treat the virus.

“The first thing we do is try to assess the mental and physical health of the person,” Williams says. “We take confirmatory tests to verify the presence of the virus in their system and then our providers measure their overall health and look for associated illnesses like hepatitis or other STDs.”

Schedule of Events

Today
• Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St., N.W., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Greater Baden Medical Services, Suitland Health and Wellness Center, 5001 Silver Hill Rd., 2nd Floor, Suitland, Md., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday
• Benning Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd., N.E., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Giant, 1050 Brentwood Rd, N.E., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday
• “God’s People are Getting Tested” Initiative, Christ Lutheran Church, 16th and Gallatin Streets, N.W., noon to 3 p.m.
• MLK Memorial Library, 901 G St., N.W., 1 to 4 p.m.

Monday
• Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St., N.W., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Greater Baden Medical Services, Glenarden Apartments Health Center, 3028 Brightseat Rd., Suite 104, Glenarden, Md., 1o a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday
• Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St., N.W., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Greater Baden Medical Services, Glenarden Apartments Health Center, 3028 Brightseat Rd., Suite 104, Glenarden, Md., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Gay Men’s Health & Wellness/STD Clinic, Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St., N.W., 6 p.m.

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Health

UNAIDS to commemorate Zero Discrimination Day’s 10th anniversary

UN agency urges global action to protect human rights

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A UNAIDS anti-discrimination exhibit at Tocumen International Airport in Panama in 2018. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

As the world marks the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day; UNAIDS is sounding the alarm on the increasing threats to human rights, calling for renewed efforts to protect the rights of all individuals as a fundamental step towards ensuring health for everyone.

Established by UNAIDS a decade ago, Zero Discrimination Day aims to promote equality and fairness regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity or HIV status. The progress achieved over the past years is now in jeopardy, however, due to rising attacks on the rights of women, LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima emphasized the critical link between protecting human rights and safeguarding public health. 

“The attacks on rights are a threat to freedom and democracy and are harmful to health,” she said in a press release. “Stigma and discrimination obstruct HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care and hold back progress towards ending AIDS by 2030. It is only by protecting everyone’s rights that we can protect everyone’s health.”

Despite challenges, there has been notable progress. 

At the onset of the AIDS pandemic more than 40 years ago, two-thirds of countries criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations. They are now decriminalized in two-thirds of countries. An additional 38 countries around the world have pledged to end HIV-related stigma and discrimination, contributing to positive changes that include 50 million more girls attending school compared to 2015.

To sustain and enhance these advancements; UNAIDS urges global support for women’s rights movements, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, economic justice, climate justice and peace initiatives. By standing with communities advocating for their rights, the U.N. aims to reinforce the collective effort towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

Zero Discrimination Day is observed on March 1.

Events and activities that will take place around the world throughout the month will serve as reminders of the essential lesson and call to action: Protecting everyone’s health is synonymous with protecting everyone’s rights.

“Through upholding rights for all, we will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and secure a safer, fairer, kinder and happier world — for everyone,” said Byanyima.

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Health

New CDC report finds transgender women at higher risk for HIV

More than 1,600 people in seven cities surveyed

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (Photo courtesy of the CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new study report this week that revealed that restricted by employment and housing discrimination and lack of access to needed gender-affirming healthcare for transgender women increasing the risk of contracting HIV. 

Researchers reviewed data from a 2019-2020 survey, the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Among Transgender Women, which found that the demographics of HIV/AIDS have been disproportionally high, especially among Black and Latina trans women, who had experienced employment and housing discrimination coupled with lack of access to gender-affirming healthcare.

The Jan. 25 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report was based on data studies of more than 1,600 trans women in seven major urban locales. Participants from Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle were chosen by referrals from people and community-based organizations who knew or were part of the local population of trans women.

The study’s researchers noted: “Employment discrimination occurs at the overlapping nexus of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, health insurance, disability, food insecurity and survival sex work. These issues are interconnected.”

The study stated that trans women’s inability to access quality healthcare, including gender-affirming treatment or access to PrEP, and can expose them to potential incarceration as many turn to “survival sex work” and violence, which increases the risk of contracting HIV. 

The study’s author’s pointed out: “When economically marginalized transgender women are refused employment, this refusal cyclically contributes to economic hardships. This analysis …demonstrates the importance of transgender women working and living with dignity and without fear of unfair treatment.”

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Health

A Whole New Perspective on Well-Being

The Mather’s team recognizes that everyone’s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

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The Mather is incorporating biophilic design—a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns.

It’s easy to spot the distinctive, elegant silhouette of The Mather, a Life Plan Community for those 62+ opening this spring in Tysons, Virginia. What is not apparent to the naked eye is The Mather’s unique wellness philosophy, which is literally built into the community. 

The Mather’s team recognizes that everyone’s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

Nature is one of the important factors that contribute to well-being. So The Mather is incorporating biophilic design—a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns. This can include interior spaces with sightlines to a garden, choosing natural wood and stone as interior materials, or incorporating fragrant flowers and plants indoors to spark memories and provide tactile opportunities such as gardening. 

Residents of The Mather will be able to select from plentiful amenities, programs, and other offerings to target their personal wellness goals and preferences.

“Providing biophilic design within interior settings connects residents to the natural world,” says Mary Leary, CEO and President of Mather, the organization behind The Mather. “Research shows that a connection to nature provides positive benefits to mental states and overall well-being. At The Mather, biophilic design is the intersection of buildings and programs with nature in an urban setting.”

“The Mather is attracting a diverse group of older adults,” says Mary. “As a result, we aim to incorporate wellness practices from around the world, including Wyda movement theory of the Celtic Druids, which helps people achieve harmony with nature and contentment through mindfulness.” This holistic regenerative approach is similar to Qi Gong and yoga, while born in a different part of the world. Mather Institute has a special focus on mindfulness to support older adults’ practice of present moment awareness, which can lead to increased overall well-being, compassion, and joy.

A very different example of a wellness offering at The Mather is the Gharieni Welnamis spa wave bed, which uses computer-controlled vibrational therapy and audio frequencies to train the brain to relax. “The bed increases mindfulness, concentration, and creativity—all of which support our mission of creating Ways to Age Well,SM” says Mary.

These and other personalized ways to wellness will ensure that residents of The Mather can choose from seemingly countless ways to focus on their well-being. In other words, the sky’s the limit!

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