Dalton State students take advantage of free HIV test

Published 11:29 pm Friday, December 4, 2015

Twenty percent of people living with HIV don’t know they have it, Dr. Mark Elam said during a World AIDS Day program at Dalton State College this week.

“That is because they are not getting tested,” he said.  

Elam said the idea is to “get to zero” when it comes to new cases of HIV diagnosis.

Free HIV testing was offered by the North Georgia Health District’s Living Bridge Center and the college’s Department of Social Work, School of Health Professions. Thirteen people were tested, said Paula Odom, a student and vice president of the Social Work Club.

Melissa Beavers, 43, a social work student, said it was her first time being tested. She said after hearing the speakers during the program she believed it was a good time to get it done.

“The speakers said there is never a reason not to be tested,” said Beavers, whose test was negative.  

“I had a counseling session and talked about the importance of safe sex,” said Beavers. “I’ve been married for three years now. Everybody who’s had more than one sex partner should be tested.”

Odom said there were many students who were interested but didn’t have the time to wait because of class.

HIV outreach worker Lucy Branson was one of the people administrating the test.

“There was a line, we were going as fast as we could, but each test takes 20 minutes,” she said.

Branson said 12 women and one man were tested using the Clearview test, which required a finger prick of blood and saw results returned in about 15 minutes.

While waiting on the results Branson discussed risk factors of HIV and how to reduce them.

Branson said they used to offer the swab test because it was faster.

“We would complete 30 to 50 tests, but results took a week to get back and students weren’t returning,” she said.

“That kind of defeats the purpose,” Branson said.

Amairamy Vidana, 22,  was also tested. She said she is tested annually.

“It is very important to be tested, even more for Latino people,” she said.

Vidana said there is a large Latino community in Dalton whose members do not get tested.

“You don’t speak about sex or HIV in this culture, that’s really bad,” she said. “It’s about respect, you’re not even supposed to do anything sexually related, even talking about it is taboo.”

Student Shonna Bailey said she hadn’t been tested in years.

“My husband recently got tested and was negative,” said the 44-year-old. She said this was her first test since she got married six years ago.

“It’s a good opportunity for me to get it done and for free,” she said.

Branson said everyone tested negative, but officials were prepared in case someone was positive. In addition to counseling, a free second test would be given at the health department.

Elam said people are dying from AIDS and that should not happen.

“Get tested, it’s important, it’s a treatable disease,” he said.

Odom said there are plans to offer free testing more often.

 “We hope to host them once a month and set up in different areas around campus to make it more convenient,” she said.

Student Krystal Jeffers, who was tested for the first time, said she thinks it’s a good idea.

“Offering tests raises awareness around the campus,” she said.