Brooklyn, New York--Kingsbrook’s will continue its commitment to HIV awareness by offering free screenings to all members of the community.  Through its ongoing partnership with The Foundation for Medical Evaluation and Early Detection, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center (KJMC) located at 585 Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn, between Rutland Road and Winthrop Street is able to provide members of the public, who would like to be screened but cannot afford the associated costs to receive a complimentary HIV screening.
 
Recent reports indicate that in Brooklyn, the overall rate of new HIV diagnoses is 40.2 per 100,000 persons.  It further shows that the rates are highest in areas of Bedford Stuyvesant (88.9 per 100,000); East New York (57.6 per 100,000); Bushwick (56.6 per 100,000) and East Flatbush/Flatbush (56.2 per 100,000).  Given that Brooklyn residents comprise 31% of the population of New York City and 27% of new HIV diagnoses, Kingsbrook has intensified its commitment to ensure that all residents of communities have opportunities to receive the medical care necessary to improve their quality of life.
 
“In light of these statistics, Kingsbrook has fortified its community education and awareness program in 2007, in the hope that residents of our culturally diverse communities will become more responsive to the serious impact that HIV is having locally,” states Enid Dillard, Director of Marketing & Public Affairs at Kingsbrook.  She adds, “We are going all out to heighten awareness, and to provide opportunities for individuals to receive no cost important screenings right in their local communities, through our network of community-based family health centers. We do hope persons would use this opportunity to get screened, become aware of their status and, if necessary, get  the medical help they need.” 

 If you or someone you know can benefit from these free HIV screenings, we encourage you to visit any of the above locations on the days and times listed.  For more information please call Kingsbrook’s Public Affairs office at 718-604-5062. 


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