Walgreens, Greater Than AIDS to provide free HIV testing

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS, a coalition of public and private sector partners united in response to the domestic epidemic, are teaming with health departments and local AIDS organizations to provide free HIV testing at 47 Walgreens stores in 20 cities across the nation in June in support of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, the companies announced last week.



“These testing events provide valuable and vital opportunities to help the communities we serve,” stated Glen Pietrandoni, Walgreens senior manager of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. “Walgreens has supported people living with HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic through its ability to offer accessible pharmacy, health and wellness guidance to patients, wherever they live. Our pharmacists are developing relationships, listening to concerns and providing education and support.”



“This is a powerful example of what can be achieved when the public and private sector come together in response to HIV/AIDS,” added Tina Hoff, SVP and director of health communication and media partnerships for the Kaiser Family Foundation, a founding partner of Greater Than AIDS.



An additional 138 Walgreens stores in the participating communities will help publicize the free testing through in-store messaging, including posters, post cards and in-store audio. And Walgreens will help promote National HIV Testing Day with special messages on June 27 on its Times Square digital display.



More than 50 state and local health departments and AIDS service organizations are coordinating the testing and providing results on-site at participating Walgreens locations, as well as supporting outreach. Free HIV tests will be available June 27 to 29 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at select Walgreens locations in Atlanta; Baltimore; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Houston; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; New Orleans; New York; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia; San Francisco; St. Louis; Washington; and West Palm Beach, Fla.



This marks the second year Walgreens has teamed with Greater Than AIDS and local organizations to bring free HIV testing to communities with more than twice the number of stores and markets participating in 2012 than last year.