Baltimore Mayor “Jack” Young, Local Leaders to Cut Ribbon at New, Free HIV/AIDS Clinic—AHF’s First in Baltimore—Thurs., June 13th

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Working together to address the current HIV epidemic in Baltimore, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will be joined by Baltimore Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young, State Senator Mary Washington, City Council President Brandon Scott and other members of the Baltimore City Council and Maryland General Assembly to host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new cutting-edge, non-profit healthcare center, located at 11 E. Lexington St., Suite 100 on Thursday, June 13^th at 3:00 p.m. with speakers and the formal ribbon-cutting at 4:00 p.m. The location will provide free, rapid HIV testing, free STD testing and treatment, and state-of-the-art medical care for those living with HIV. Medical services will be provided by AHF Maryland Medical Director, Dr. Leleka Doonquah, who has over two decades of experience in providing HIV-specific medical care and has been actively involved in the Maryland community through her leadership at the AHF Temple Hills location.

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AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) opens its first site in Baltimore Thursday, June 13th--a free HIV/AIDS treatment clinic, an AHF Wellness Center, and an AHF Pharmacy will soon follow at the location. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Through Dr. Doonquah’s over two decades of expertise in providing HIV-specific care to patients and AHF’s commitment to the community by providing cutting-edge medical care regardless of one’s ability to pay, we are thrilled to expand our services into Baltimore and to work with local community leaders, like Mayor Young, in addressing the HIV epidemic disproportionately impacting this community,” said Mike McVicker-Weaver, AHF Regional Director.

AHF Healthcare Centers aim to decrease the number of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses by providing:

• Free HIV testing so people can be aware of their status;
• Immediate linkage into care – regardless of ability to pay – for those who test positive; and
• Support through ongoing follow-ups to ensure adherence to a health regimen that will ultimately extend life expectancies and reduce the risk of transmission.

“I am pleased to be expanding our HIV care into the Baltimore area, to further address the HIV epidemic impacting communities across Maryland,” stated AHF Medical Director Dr. Leleka Doonquah. “As a non-profit agency specializing in HIV, through our innovative medical care and pharmacy services we are committed to putting the needs of the clients we serve as a priority.”

The new AHF Healthcare Center hours of operation are:

Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday and Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Free testing (and treatment, when needed) for syphilis, Chlamydia and gonorrhea provided on Tuesday and Thursday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. during AHF Wellness Center hours.

In the near future AHF will also open a full-service pharmacy, that will be housed at the new healthcare center. The AHF Pharmacy will be a full-service facility staffed with pharmacists who specialize in HIV/AIDS medications (as well as general pharmacy services) that provide clients with access to the additional specialists, medications and services they need to be as healthy as possible.

According to recent statistics from the Maryland Department of Public Health:

• Baltimore City and Prince George’s County have the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in the state;
• Maryland was rated 5^th in the nation in regards to new HIV diagnosis;
• Close to 12% of people living with HIV in Maryland remain undiagnosed and are unaware of their status.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.1 million individuals in 44 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us @aidshealthcare.

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