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HUGHES DEMONSTRATES RAPID HIV TEST
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Regina King, from Harrisburg's
Hamilton Health Center, helps
state Sen. Vincent Hughes take
the "OraQuick Advance" rapid HIV
test. |
HARRISBURG, June 27, 2007
-- In recognition of National HIV Testing
Day, state Sen. Vincent J. Hughes
demonstrated the ease and simplicity of
being tested with a device created by a
Pennsylvania company.
“There are no excuses for
not being tested,” Hughes said. “Today we
have a very fast, very simple and bloodless
way for every American to be sure.”
For today’s event, Hughes
invited a list of local activists, experts
and industry representatives to talk about
the tremendous progress in making HIV
testing easier and more available.
“I am honored to be joined
today by all links in the chain of hope,”
Hughes said. “We have lawmakers who can make
sure the funding is available. We have our
biotech industry creating the miracles. And
we have the volunteers who hit the streets
and deliver the hope to our communities. I
am honored to stand with them and I thank
them.”
Hughes, D-Philadelphia/Montgomery, has
traveled across America speaking and
listening on the subject of HIV/AIDS
prevention.
In the Capitol Media Center
today, he took the “OraQuick Advance” HIV
test, administered by Regina King LPN,
program director of HIV Outreach and Patient
Empowerment (HOPE) at Hamilton Health Center
in Harrisburg.
The test was developed by
OraSure, of Bethlehem, Pa., the nation’s
leader in simple, bloodless HIV testing
kits. The company has worked closely with
public health officials and has donated
thousands of testing kits to organizations
throughout the country.
Also joining Hughes at the
event were:
·
Hilbert Byers III,
OraSure Technologies Inc, Account Manager
·
Renee L. Hartford,
President/CEO, Hartford Consulting, Inc.
·
Tom Donohue,
Founder/Executive Director “Who’s Positive”
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Jonathan Walker and Emily Seitz,
HIV education volunteers, Planned Parenthood
of Central PA
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Dr. Calvin Johnson,
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health
·
Carla Dykes, Kirstin Smith, Aigner Hall,
HIV education volunteers, Hamilton Health
Center
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