The Frederick County Health Department is bringing free HIV testing to downtown Frederick.

"The Centers For Disease Control actually funds our testing program, and they placed new conditions on our award this year, meaning that they wanted us to leave our agency, and actually go out into the community and do testing. We will be having several events, this Spring and Summer, downtown. One of them will be at Convoy of Hope, on June 2nd. The next one takes off at the 8th Frederick HIV/AIDS Awarness Walk, Saturday, June 16th, at the Frederick Church of the Brethren, on Fairview Avenue," said Debbie Anne, AIDS Certified Nurse and Supervisor of the HIV Program at the Frederick County Health Department.

According to the Centers for Disease Control there are an estimated 80 individuals living in Frederick County who have HIV infection and don't know it because they have not had an HIV test. "There's a concentrated number of people, in the city, who are infected, living in the 21701, 02 and 03 zip code areas," continued Anne.

Free testing is always available at the Frederick County Health Department on Mondays an Fridays. To arrange an appointment call 301-600-3342. For more imformation about the AIDS Walk, visit www.fcob.net .