Maverick County Hospital District Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to Celebrate National HIV Testing Day on June 27th

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2019

Maverick County Hospital District Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Director Marcos Trevino announced that June 27, 2019 is National HIV Testing Awareness Day and the local hospital district is celebrating by offering free HIV testing for any person interested in getting tested and learning about the many services available to them through the Ryan White Program, a national federally funded program by the United States Department of Health Resources and Human Services (HRSA).

The MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, essential support services, and medications for low-income people living with HIV who are uninsured and underserved in order to improve their health outcomes and reduce HIV transmission. In 2017, 85.9 percent of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clients in the United States were virally suppressed, exceeding the national average of 59.8 percent.

The MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is located at the District’s Office, 3406 Bob Rogers Drive, Suite 190 (Second Floor), Eagle Pass, Texas and its telephone number is (830) 757-4937. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 A.M. through 4 P.M.

The MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program serves a nine county area, including Maverick, Val Verde, Kinney, Real, Edwards, Uvalde, Zavala, Dimmit, and La Salle.

Trevino stated that the MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is open year round, but wishes to encourage anyone interested to come in and get the free HIV test during the month of June, particularly on National HIV Testing Awareness Day on June 27th.

Trevino noted that the MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program will be hosting a community-wide Third Annual Volleyball Tournament on June 27, 2019 from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. at the City of Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center in Eagle Pass, Texas to celebrate and create awareness about the National HIV Testing Awareness Day of June 27th.

The Third Annual Volleyball Tournament is open to Co-Ed, Women’s, and Men’s volleyball teams with individual players from 12 years old and up, including adults. To register your volleyball team for the tournament , please call Marcos Trevino at (830) 757-4937. Upon calling, volleyball teams will be provided all the information and forms necessary to register for the Third Annual Volleyball Tournament. Last year, a total of eight teams participated and this year the goal is to increase the number of teams participating. The purpose of the volleyball tournament is to increase awareness about National HIV Testing Day on June 27th and the services offered at the MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Free HIV testing will be available to the public at the volleyball tournament.

In addition to offering free HIV testing, the MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program offers medical services, medications, mental health counseling, public housing assistance, community outreach, distribution of free condoms, and other services to HIV/AIDS clients. Currently, the MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has a staff of seven persons, including two medical case managers, a non-medical case manager, a public housing assistance specialist, a community outreach specialist, and a program director, as well as the medical and mental health services available through the MCHD Physician Specialty Clinic and Primary Care Services Clinic.

Currently, the MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has a total of 103 clients within the nine county service area, but its mission is to educate and assist all individuals who have had an encounter or seek to be tested for HIV/AIDS or are HIV/AIDS positive throughout the nine counties. “Our doors are open to anyone who seeks assistance and meet our eligibility guidelines,” said Marcos Trevino. Program Director.

For more information about National HIV Testing Day on June 27th or the MCHD Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, please contact Marcos Trevino at (830) 757-4937.