The Charleston-Kanawha Health Department began mobile HIV testing
two times a week in April. So far that program has detected three new positives in the county. These aren’t large scale testing events. Instead they are meant to target those most at-risk.
“When you have HIV and they collect your information, we look at zip codes. And so we can identify down to the zip code pretty closely where people are,” Young said.
The program has also reconnected nine HIV-positive people back to the healthcare system.
State
data shows among new HIV cases in the past two years in Kanawha County, a quarter have never sought treatment. Those who are struggling with addiction and insecure housing can have a difficult time making appointments and sticking to a medical routine, said Dr. Christine Teague of the Ryan White Foundation at CAMC.
WVPB Dignitaries gathered from the opening of the new Health Right Clinic on Charleston s West Side.
The opening of a small, community clinic brought out a big crowd on Charleston’s West Side Tuesday including many of the state’s top political and elected officials who came to the grand opening of the city’s new Health Right Clinic.
Health Right clinics provide free, comprehensive health care for uninsured and low-income people. State officials and members of the Charleston West Side community say the new clinic is meant to bridge a gap in health care coverage in the capital city.