Yangpyeong-gun Provides Free and Anonymous HIV Testing on World AIDS Day

Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province (Governor Jeon Jin-seon) announced on the 3rd that it will provide free and anonymous testing to prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in observance of the 37th World AIDS Day (December 1).

Free and Anonymous Testing Poster for the Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection. Provided by Yangpyeong-gun

The county expects that HIV testing will help prevent the virus by providing an opportunity to confirm infection status early if infection is suspected.

World AIDS Day is held annually on December 1 to commemorate the "London Declaration" adopted at the World Health Ministers' Meeting held in London, UK, in 1988. The London Declaration emphasizes the importance of information exchange, education, and respect for human rights in AIDS prevention, raising global awareness of the need for AIDS prevention activities.

To commemorate this, the Yangpyeong-gun Public Health Center offers free anonymous HIV testing, with strict confidentiality guaranteed regarding test results. Any resident of Yangpyeong-gun can visit the testing room on the first floor of the Yangpyeong-gun Public Health Center to get tested.

The main transmission routes are through bodily fluids such as blood, sexual contact, and breast milk, and HIV is not transmitted through everyday contact, handshakes, or meals. To prevent HIV infection, proper condom use, safe sexual practices, and regular early testing are essential. Early detection of HIV infection can prevent transmission to others and allow individuals to maintain a healthy life through treatment.

It is most accurate to begin screening tests 4 weeks after the suspected infection date. Even if the screening test result is negative, it is important to undergo additional testing using the Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) 6 weeks later, considering the possibility of false negatives. Retesting with other methods is recommended 12 weeks after the suspected infection date.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of September 2023, the cumulative number of HIV-infected individuals in South Korea was reported to be 19,745, with 1,005 new infections reported in 2023. Of the new infections, 89.9% were male, and the 20s and 30s age group accounted for 64.1% of all infections.

For inquiries about free and anonymous HIV testing for infection prevention, please contact the Yangpyeong-gun Public Health Center at any time for guidance.