Health Commissioner Julia Sheen announced today that the Department of Health STD/HIV/TB Program will hold a series of events beginning today, to commemorate National HIV Testing Day.

National HIV Testing Day is celebrated June 27 annually but the STD/HIV/TB Program will hold free-testing through July 3, 2010, to encourage residents to take the test. This year’s theme is “Take the Test, Take Control.”

“While June 27 is observed annually as National HIV testing day, every day is HIV testing day,” Sheen said. “We encourage residents to live up to this year’s theme and take the test and take control of their lives.”

Residents can know their status within minutes of taking the Rapid HIV Test which will be administered, Sheen said.

Free testing will be held through July 3 at various times at these locations:

Wednesday June 23, 2010 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

• St. Thomas: Seaborne Terminal
• St. Croix: Seaborne Terminal

Thursday June 24, 2010 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

• St. John: The Market Place-Cruz Bay

Friday, June 25, 2010 (time is TBA)

• St. Thomas: Club 75
• St. Croix: Players Club Central

Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

• St. Thomas: Philadelphia Seventh Day Adventist Church
• St. Croix: Central Seventh Day Adventist Church at Sian Farm Ball Park

Monday June 28, 2010 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

• St. Thomas: Clinic Only HIV Screening
• St. Croix: Clinic Only HIV Screening

Saturday, July 3, 2010 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

• St. Croix: Seventh Day Adventist Church Health Fair