Florida LEGAL to offer HIV Testing

[Deleted]

Florida LEGAL is in the process of arranging for free HIV testing for all of It's members and guests at our upcoming annual retreat. In an effort to protect our members health, we will set three hours aside on Saturday afternoon July 31st for pretest counseling, HIV testing, and post test counseling for everyone that wants it. The testing will take place at our host hotel, The Best Western Hotel in Fort Myers.
As a certified HIV/AIDS educator, trainer and tester with the State Of Florida, I will be working with the Lee County Department Of Health to make this important testing available. For more information about this program, send me an e-mail and I'll be happy to answer any questions.

[hcsodale]

Carroll, I think it's great that you are working with the Lee Co. Health Department to do that. What will amaze me though, is if there is a big participation.

Hopefully, people in our profession realize the potential for coming across all kinds of nasty things, Hep C, TB, AIDS... just from doing our job. Knowing this, one would think their primary care physician would offer or even suggest these screenings, and the people would do it!

I'm sure there are those that don't get tested regularly, but I wonder if they won't do it with their own physician , will they have it done in a foreign setting? I wouldn't.

I think it is a very generous act though in arranging this to help the people that will take advantage of the opportunity.

[Deleted]

You're right Hcsodale. We have no idea how many of our members will take advantage of the HIV testing. We will be offering counseling sessions on ways to avoid other STD's as well. Usually, our members are very receptive to the programs and services we offer, but only time will tell how this will work out.
Florida LEGAL wants to make sure that everything we do is relevant to the needs, issues and concerns of our membership. That's why we constantly try to upgrade things like the titles in our lending library, our legal referral system, our newsletter, and the planing of our social events. We're blessed here in Florida LEGAL because we have a great team of people dedicated to this work. It really is a labor of love.