Free weekly HIV testing coming

LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay, Family Resource Center and Equitas Health are teaming up to offer free weekly HIV testing in Findlay. A kickoff event Monday will launch the effort. Dr. Jasmin Bradley, executive director of Spectrum, said the organization is "excited" to make HIV testing more accessible to the community. Testing will be offered at the Family Center, 1800 N. Blanchard St., where many area nonprofits are housed. Other Family Center nonprofits will also be part of Monday's event, as will organizations such as National Alliance on Mental Illness Hancock County and Focus, a nonprofit recovery center. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. HIV testing will be available going forward from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday, Bradley said. She said the goal is to "stop the spread" of HIV, and that people can reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus if they know their HIV status. If an HIV-positive person knows they have tested positive, they can manage the disease, which can mean they become "virally suppressed" and thus are less likely to transmit it to others. Bradley said Monday's event will also offer a chance for community members to learn about other local organizations that can help. She said efforts are underway in the community to provide mental health care for people with HIV, as well as to try to make PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) more affordable. People at risk can take PrEP to prevent them from getting HIV. With all of these efforts going on, "we're really building some infrastructure" in Findlay to support people who test positive for HIV, Bradley said.