2009-10-14 21:54:04 -

On Tuesday, October 13 th , AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) : opened a Men's Wellness Center at AHF “Magic Johnson” Healthcare Center located at Jackson North, to provide, at no cost to clients, confidential and comprehensive sexual health services for men—including HIV and STD (sexually-transmitted disease) testing and treatment—in one convenient location. This walk-in clinic is based on a successful model of service pioneered by AHF at its Hollywood Healthcare Center in Los Angeles. The Men's Wellness Center at AHF “Magic Johnson” Healthcare Center, located at 100 Northwest 170th Street, Suite 208 in the Jackson North Medical Center, will offer free HIV and STD screenings and treatment, as well as treatment for syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hours of service

are Tuesday evenings, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. No appointment is necessary.

“As AHF grows its healthcare services in Florida, we are proud to offer a second targeted men’s wellness center at AHF ‘Magic Johnson’ Healthcare Center,” said James Vellequette, Regional Manager – Southern Bureau, Prevention, Testing and Development for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "The Men’s Wellness Center is designed to increase awareness, reduce risk and, if necessary, provide linkage to treatment services. It is our hope that this Men’s Wellness Center in North Miami fills a need in the community, as the newly opened Men’s Wellness Center in Fort Lauderdale continues to operate at capacity.”


Palm cards and flyers have been distributed in South Florida about the new service which emphasize the convenience of the center and encourage regular screening for STDs as part of a one’s regular health maintenance routine.

“This new Men’s Wellness Center is part of AHF’s ongoing effort to normalize HIV and STD screening, removing the stigma and making regular testing as much a part of taking care of oneself as going to the gym, taking vitamins or eating healthy food. We aim to encourage men in the community to be tested for HIV and other STDs as part of their routine health maintenance,” said Albert Ruiz, AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Senior Program Manager for the Men’s Wellness Center Programs.

In Florida, AIDS Healthcare Foundation serves more than 15,000 people living with HIV/AIDS through a variety of programs, including Positive Healthcare (a statewide disease management program), Positive Healthcare Managed Care, testing and prevention programs, healthcare centers in Jacksonville, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, and AHF Pharmacies. AHF’s Out of the Closet Thrift Stores in Wilton Manors and Miami at Biscayne and 29 th offers free HIV testing and treatment referral through an AHF Pharmacy built adjacent to the store.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation:Lori YeghiayanAssoc. Dir.

of Communications(323) 860-5227 office, (323) 377-4312 cell loriy@aidshealth.org : mailto:loriy@aidshealth.org orJames
VellequetteRegional Manager - Southern BureauPrevention,
Testing and Development, AHFCell: 954-494-5016, jamesv@aidshealth.org : mailto:jamesv@aidshealth.org