Anonymous HIV testing day on campus
The Options Clinic will make
getting tested for HIV easy and
convenient on November 29. Lyn
Pierre Pitman, Coordinator for the
Options Clinic, a service of the
London InterCommunity Health
Centre, will be stationed in
SC1014, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. conducting
HIV tests for all interested
students.
The testing is completely anonymous, and no health card is required for the test. The blood test is quick and you'll have your results within minutes. The tests are by appointment only, and you can set that up with Pierre Pitman by emailing her at lpierrepitman@ lihc.on.ca.
She is bringing testing to campus as part of AIDS Awareness Week, which takes place from November 24 to December 1. "This year, during AIDS Awareness Week, what we're trying to do is a number of outreach clinics throughout the city just to raise awareness," she said. Along with coming to Fanshawe's London campus, the Options Clinic will have testing and/or information booths at Central Spa, the North End library, the Youth Action Centre and more throughout the end of November — check lihc.on.ca/events for more information.
"I think AIDS Awareness Week is important because it reminds everyone that this is a virus that we're still dealing with," said Pierre Pitman. "The first cases were known in the early '80s and here we are in 2011, still becoming infected. I think if we could use this week to raise awareness, to remind people that this virus really is preventable with safer sex and safer needle use, then we can bring an end to new infections."
She continued on to say that for students who have been considering getting tested, the testing session on November 29 makes it easy and convenient, putting HIV testing at the forefront of their minds. "It prevents the students from putting it off because they have to go to their doctor or the clinic on Dundas Street; if we're right there, hopefully some students will take advantage of that."
If you can't make it to the testing session on November 29, there are other ways to get tested. The Options Clinic office is located at 659 Dundas St., and they have a location even closer to campus as well. "We also have a health centre that is part of the London InterCommunity Health Centre at Huron and Highbury at 1355 Huron St.," said Pierre Pitman. "If someone would call our main number — 519-673-4427 — and request an appointment at Huron, we will meet them there. It makes it a bit more convenient for anyone living in the northeast."
Book a time to get tested with Pierre Pitman on November 29 by emailing her at lpierrepitman@lihc.on.ca. For more information about the Options Clinic and the London InterCommunity Health Centre, visit lihc.on.ca or call 519-673- 4427.
The testing is completely anonymous, and no health card is required for the test. The blood test is quick and you'll have your results within minutes. The tests are by appointment only, and you can set that up with Pierre Pitman by emailing her at lpierrepitman@ lihc.on.ca.
She is bringing testing to campus as part of AIDS Awareness Week, which takes place from November 24 to December 1. "This year, during AIDS Awareness Week, what we're trying to do is a number of outreach clinics throughout the city just to raise awareness," she said. Along with coming to Fanshawe's London campus, the Options Clinic will have testing and/or information booths at Central Spa, the North End library, the Youth Action Centre and more throughout the end of November — check lihc.on.ca/events for more information.
"I think AIDS Awareness Week is important because it reminds everyone that this is a virus that we're still dealing with," said Pierre Pitman. "The first cases were known in the early '80s and here we are in 2011, still becoming infected. I think if we could use this week to raise awareness, to remind people that this virus really is preventable with safer sex and safer needle use, then we can bring an end to new infections."
She continued on to say that for students who have been considering getting tested, the testing session on November 29 makes it easy and convenient, putting HIV testing at the forefront of their minds. "It prevents the students from putting it off because they have to go to their doctor or the clinic on Dundas Street; if we're right there, hopefully some students will take advantage of that."
If you can't make it to the testing session on November 29, there are other ways to get tested. The Options Clinic office is located at 659 Dundas St., and they have a location even closer to campus as well. "We also have a health centre that is part of the London InterCommunity Health Centre at Huron and Highbury at 1355 Huron St.," said Pierre Pitman. "If someone would call our main number — 519-673-4427 — and request an appointment at Huron, we will meet them there. It makes it a bit more convenient for anyone living in the northeast."
Book a time to get tested with Pierre Pitman on November 29 by emailing her at lpierrepitman@lihc.on.ca. For more information about the Options Clinic and the London InterCommunity Health Centre, visit lihc.on.ca or call 519-673- 4427.
