By Sarah Whitman
In recognition of National HIV Testing Day June 27, Spirit of Life Metropolitan Community Church in New Port Richey and the Pasco County Health Department will offer free confidential testing.
Rodney Leifheit, administrator for Spirit of Life and treasurer for the Pasco World AIDS Day Committee, said getting tested is just as important today as it ever was.
“People may not realize it but HIV is still prevalent regardless of a person’s sexual orientation,” Leifheit said. “There’s a whole new generation coming along that may or may not be aware of the risks out there.”
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 700 people living with AIDS in Pasco County. The county is currently ranked 16th in HIV/AIDS cases statewide behind Hillsborough, which is ranked fifth with a reported 5,841 cases. While there still is no cure, advanced drugs and treatments have made it possible for patients to live long relatively healthy lives. 
Unfortunately, according to the Pasco County Health Department, less than 50 percent of Pasco adults less than 65 years of age have ever been tested.
The health department and groups like the Pasco World AIDS Day Committee work to educate the public. World AIDS Day traditionally falls in December but efforts to promote awareness are ongoing.
“We have an HIV/AIDS prevention team that goes into the community for education and outreach,” said Teresa Waterman, director of disease control for Pasco. “There are a number of community partners working to promote awareness.
Leifheit became involved with the cause after losing several friends to AIDS. When Spirit of Life asked him to help, he immediately said yes.
The Pasco World AIDS Day Committee and the health department recently visited the New Port Richey campus of Pasco Hernando College to hand out information and offer free testing.
The response was overwhelming.
“There were lines of kids waiting to be tested,” Leifheit said.
Waterman said surveillance data allows for prevention efforts to focus on high-risk populations and those most impacted by the disease. The fastest growing group affected by HIV/AIDS in Florida is African-American and Hispanic women. Among African-Americans age 25 to 44, AIDS is the leading cause of death.
The disease, of course, does not affect only one specific group. Anyone who practices unsafe sex or who uses IV drugs is at an elevated risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. The key is to get tested.
Spirit of Life will offer testing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 24 at the church, 4133 Thys Road. The Pasco County Healthy Department clinic will offer testing from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. June 25 at its clinic, 10841 Little Road. For information, call (727) 861-5260 ext. 162.
The Hillsborough County Health Department will offer free testing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 20 and 27 at St. James AME Church, 1436 Madison Ave. For information, call (813) 363-2226.
Should you get tested?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following behaviors or situations increase the need for immediate HIV testing.
*Unprotected sex with men or women who’ve had multiple or anonymous partners
*Sharing needles or injected drugs with others
*A previous diagnosis of hepatitis, tuberculosis or a sexually transmitted disease
*Are pregnant or planning to get pregnant
