Thirteen people in Penobscot County have tested positive for HIV between Oct. 1, 2023, and Aug. 15, 2024, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
Here are some of the resources available in the area for testing, prevention, education and treatment.
Bangor Public Health Department
103 Texas Ave.; 207-992-4547
The Bangor Public Health Department offers both education and screenings for HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections both in its Texas Avenue clinic and through outreach efforts.
Bangor Health Equity Alliance
304 Hancock St., Suit 3B; 207-990-3626
Bangor Health Equity Alliance provides education on how to protect against HIV, tests for the disease, has sterile syringes and can help people access both post-exposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Mabel Wadsworth Center
700 Mount Hope Ave., Suite 420; 207-947-5337
Mabel Wadsworth Center offers blood draw HIV testing, risk reduction education, and can prescribe PrEP, a medication that can reduce the risk of contracting HIV.
Community Health and Counseling Services
42 Cedar Street; 207-947-0366
Community Health and Counseling Services provides case management for the nationwide Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which provides care to adults living with HIV in the U.S.
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness
157 Park Street, Suite 23; 844-844-2622
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness provides free and confidential sterile syringes, harm reduction education, rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing, Naloxone distribution and training, and safer sex supplies and education. The organization’s harm reduction office is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The harm reduction team can be reached at prevention@wabanakiphw.org.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the services available at the Mabel Wadsworth Center. The story has been updated.