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Free HIV testing, giveaways at AIDS Awareness events in Middle GA. Here’s when and where

DeMarcus Beckham, HIV/AIDS advocate in the North Central Public Health district, performs a demonstration of an HIV test at a clinic in Macon. Rapid HIV blood tests take less than five minutes for results.
DeMarcus Beckham, HIV/AIDS advocate in the North Central Public Health district, performs a demonstration of an HIV test at a clinic in Macon. Rapid HIV blood tests take less than five minutes for results. GPB News

Macon-Bibb and Houston County health departments will each offer free HIV testing as part of World AIDS Day events in December, officials said Tuesday.

There are four events to spread awareness for AIDS, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s North Central Health District. Three of them are on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, and feature both resources for HIV and AIDS and giveaways.

The Houston County event takes place Dec. 1 and will feature free testing as well as additional HIV/AIDS resources, flu and COVID-19 vaccines and even live music and gift cards. The event runs from 3 to 6 p.m. at Deloris Toliver Park in Warner Robins.

The other three events take place in Bibb County.

The main event in Macon is also Dec. 1 and features flu and COVID-19 vaccines, monkeypox vaccines for those eligible, free gift cards and more resources. It runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There is also a ceremonial balloon release at the Hope Center AIDS clinic at 11:30 a.m. and candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. in Tattnall Square Park the same day.

Another event will be held Dec. 6 and will also include free resources, education and even a drag show. It begins at 5 p.m. at the Douglass Theatre in downtown Macon.

“We at North Central health district want to continue to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS in our 13-county district,” said Michael Hokanson of the North Central Health District. “These opportunities give people the chance to meet us in places that they might be going to make it easier for them, and they can get a variety of other resources at the same time.”

More information can be found on the district website.

MJ
Micah Johnston
The Telegraph
Micah Johnston is a general assignment reporter for the Macon Telegraph. A Macon native and Mercer University graduate, he joined The Telegraph in 2022. When he’s not writing about anything under the sun, you can find him obsessively following baseball, reading or playing drums.
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