Today is National HIV Testing Day
Today, in honor of National HIV Testing Day Celestial Caring Enterprises and our client, Essence Magazine Bestselling Author, Tia Hines encourages you to get tested for HIV. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) that causes AIDS.
The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Many people with HIV don’t have any symptoms. In the United States, 1 in 7 people living with HIV don’t know they have it.
Even if you don’t feel sick, getting early treatment for HIV is important. Early treatment can help you live a longer, healthier life. Treatment can also make it less likely that you will pass HIV on to other people.
Am I at risk for HIV?
HIV is spread through some of the body fluids, semen (cum), vaginal fluids, and breast milk. HIV is passed from one person to another by:
• Having sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) without a condom or dental dam with a person who has HIV.
• Sharing needles with someone who has HIV.
• Breastfeeding, pregnancy, or childbirth, if the mother has HIV.
• Getting a transfusion of blood that’s infected with HIV (very rare in the United States.)
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law passed in 2010, insurance plans must cover HIV testing. Talk to your insurance company to learn more. Free HIV testing is also available at some testing centers and health clinics.
“HIV does not discriminate.” ~ Tia Hines
The Most Talked About Youth Discussions
Teens Are Not Exempt from HIV
Author Tia Hines is spreading a message through her YA Urban Fiction novel series, “ That Girl is Poison” to shed light on the most talked about youth discussions involving the following topics: Sex, Promiscuity, HIV, Abuse, Teen Rape, Child Sexual Assault, Pregnancy, and Neglect.
This sexual assault survivor is a youth mentor that has a very fascinating way of reaching the young generation and inspiring adults to set goals to create dreams and never stop striving to achieve new heights.
The first book in the two part series was published by Urban Books in 2012, this work is about Desire Jones, a young, hot-to-trot teen who lives life on the edge. Abandoned by her mother, she yearns for love and attention. Her uncle shelters her, but life is impossible to bear with his abusive wife. To make things worse, she gets involved with Malik, who shatters her hope and trust by leaving her pregnant and infected with HIV. So hardened, she decides to do the unspeakable, purposely infecting people with her disease. Of course, no one knows of her intent, not even her best friend, Jennifer, who unwittingly helps Desire find her victims. Will Desire realize the error of her ways before it’s too late? The forthcoming second book, “That Girl is Poison Too” will follow.
“The powerful lessons in my book reflects on respect, love, and protection. Many can relate to my own growing pains which is displayed in my fictional character experiences,” said Tia Hines.
That Girl is Poison ($12.68, 288 pages, 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.2, paperback, ISBN: 1-60162-517-0, is available at online booksellers and distributed by Kensington Publishing Corp. Urban Books is one of the nation’s largest African-American owned book publishing company located in New York and founded by book mogul and best-selling author, Carl Weber whom has published over 2500 African-American topic based books. For more information, please visit www.urbanbooks.net.
NOTE TO MEDIA: To arrange for an interview with Tia Hines, write a feature story, book review, or quotes, please contact Tishawn Marie, Publicist 209.227.4643.
