TEXAS: Montrose Clinic Offers Expanded HIV Testing Hours

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

TEXAS: Montrose Clinic Offers Expanded HIV Testing Hours

Houston Voice (12.26.03) - Friday, January 02, 2004
Binnie Fisher

Houston's Montrose Clinic expanded its testing hours on Dec. 30 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to encourage people to start the New Year by getting tested for HIV. Sonna Alton, clinic spokesperson, said it is urgent that sexually active individuals be tested at least once a year, because four new cases of HIV occur daily in Harris County.

"Get off to a great start for the New Year and say yes to the test and help reduce barriers to promote HIV testing among communities at greatest risk, specifically men who have sex with men, and African American and Latino communities," said clinic Medical Director Dr. Juan Garza. Eric Roland, director of education, noted that CDC estimates one out of every four people with HIV do not know they have it, cannot benefit from antiretroviral medications, and may unknowingly pass the virus on to others. For that reason, he said it is essential for outreach efforts to attract as many people as possible.

At the end of 2002, estimates showed 850,000-950,000 US residents had HIV, and roughly 40,000 new infections occur each year. About 60 percent of annually diagnosed cases were among men who have sex with men.

Roland and Garza agreed that fear is the primary reason people avoid testing. Therefore, Montrose Clinic offers testing at a number of gay bars as well as at the clinic at 215 Westheimer. Clinic officials relay test results, which take two weeks, in private one-on-sessions at the clinic. On Dec. 30, the clinic offered free 30-minute phone cards to the first 100 people tested.
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