June 21, 2011
A few nights a month, Michigan AIDS Coalition (MAC) outreach coordinator Kathie Griffin and her team canvass gay bars in Detroit and Ferndale, conducting free HIV testing and counseling.
"Early detection is the key to help prevent the spread" of HIV/AIDS, said Griffin.
In April, MAC began using rapid HIV testing. Since that time, 30 percent more people have agreed to get screened. The coalition is promoting the 20-minute test in bars, community centers, and other high-need locations, said Helen Hicks, MAC's CEO.
"Although more people are living longer lives, more people are becoming infected," Hicks said. "By taking an HIV test and becoming educated, fewer people will become infected."
For more information, visit www.michiganaidscoalition.org.