TRENTON, NJ – Today is National HIV Testing Day, an annual campaign to encourage people to get tested for HIV. It is an opportunity to stress the importance of getting tested for HIV, reduce anxiety and stigma around HIV, and emphasize testing as a normal part of preventive care. Planned Parenthood is an essential resource for HIV testing, prevention, education, and information, and we welcome people to come into Planned Parenthood health centers to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STDs). To encourage all New Jerseyans to get themselves tested, Planned Parenthood health centers in New Jersey are extending their free STD testing promotion through September 30.

At all of New Jersey’s Planned Parenthood health centers, individuals can walk in during normal business hours to receive free testing for HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. For more information, learn more online at Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey or Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey.

Planned Parenthood health centers in New Jersey initially started this program in April as part of National STD Awareness Month. Since then, the number of STD tests offered has skyrocketed, with 40% more tests performed in June 2018 as compared to June 2017. The program has been so successful, and the demand for affordable STD testing has been so high, that the affiliates have now extended the program three times.

“Getting tested for HIV and other STDs is a basic part of staying healthy and taking control of your sex life—and it’s easier than ever before,” said Triste Brooks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey. “Planned Parenthood is here for you, and our doors are open to everyone.”

All STDs, even HIV, are treatable and many are curable. HIV can be managed and HIV-positive individuals can live long, healthy lives if they know their status, get care, and stick with treatment.

While we’ve made progress, HIV continues to be an urgent public health crisis. Communities with structural barriers to care, including men who have sex with men, Black women, young people, and transgender people, are disproportionately impacted by HIV. It’s more important than ever that we increase access to prevention tools, like testing, education, condoms, and PrEP, to the communities most impacted by HIV.