On April 1, the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System began offering rapid HIV tests for veterans in the city, the Los Angeles Times reports (latimes.com, 4/2).
According to the article, veterans have a slightly higher risk of becoming infected with HIV than the general public does. The VA decided to offer the rapid tests in its downtown center on Temple Street because of its proximity to an area where many homeless veterans live.
According to the article, about a third of homeless adults across the nation are veterans, and approximately 70 percent of them are dealing with substance abuse—both factors that have been shown to increase the risk of contracting HIV.
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Victor W Russell, San Jose, 2008-04-09 21:14:33
This coments on a truly sad situation. We ask these people to do things that would put them in jail if done privatly. Then ignore them when they have problems. Odd to think of a higher rate of HIV in a group that excludes gays and yet it's still seen a a queer illness.
