DC To Have Free Clinic Day In August

The National Association of Free Clinics announced that it will hold a giant free clinic in Washington, D.C. on August 4. The clinic, which will offer free HIV/AIDS tests, other major tests, and medical exams, such as physicals, will be available to uninsured residents in the area.

“The District of Columbia has a much higher rate of HIV-related deaths than the rest of the nation, so we are pleased to be able to provide tests for this and other conditions to local residents at no cost to themselves,” said NAFC Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux.

The HIV-related death rate for D.C. is 38 per 100,000, compared with 3.7 persons per 100,000 nationally, according to the Kaiser Foundation state health facts. The clinic also will provide PSA tests for prostate cancer as foundation statistics show 534.5 cases of prostate cancer for every 100,000 male residents in D.C.

Other services at the clinic will include: EKGs, cholesterol blood tests, glucose tests for diabetes, blood pressure tests, muscular skeletal exams, urinalysis, pregnancy tests, hemoglobin tests and strep tests. Mental health services and pharmacy counseling will also be available and generic prescriptions will be written necessary.

“Patients at the free clinic will be referred to resources in the community for ongoing care,” Lamoureux said. “The goal is to connect uninsured patients to safety-net providers, such as free clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and hospitals.”

The free clinic will be open on August 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W. Call 1-877-233-5159 to make an appointment.

To find local HIV test site for #NHTD (and beyond), visit http://go.usa.gov/3hC or text your ZIP code to “KNOWIT” (566948). Remember, anonymous testing is available all those that are sexually active should get tested regularly.