This activist wants to take an HIV test with you

Philadelphia sees between 600 and 700 new cases of HIV/AIDS per year and is home to over 20,000 people living with the virus. They’re sobering statistics that demand action. Andrea Walker is obliging.

Walker is the founder of iROC, or Intelligently Redefining Our Future, an HIV/AIDS awareness nonprofit that visits schools and community organizations to educate people about and conduct blood testing for the virus. During June — AIDS Education Month — especially, the org hosts pop-up testing sites at local community events in partnership with likeminded orgs such as the Mazzoni Center. iROC has tested about 700 individuals in the past three years through its Know Your Status campaign.

Walker, who lost her mother to HIV/AIDS as a young adult, has taken the test over 100 times — not because she’s paranoid, but to assure others that it’s not so scary.

(Courtesy photo)

The test itself is simple: a finger prick, a few drops of blood, 20 minutes, results. At the first Know Your Status event on Temple’s campus two years ago, “I noticed a lot of our youth wanted to get tested, but they had a fear of being alone and getting their test alone,” Walker said. “A lot of people said ‘I’ll come back’ or ‘I’ll schedule an appointment with my doctor.'”

She knew teens aren’t so likely to do that, though.

“I wanted to take that fear out of them being scared, so the way I could relate to them was say, ‘If you get tested, I’ll get tested,” she said. Her actions morphed into its own campaign called #TestWithMe.

iROC will be conducting HIV testing at the “Kickback Cookout,” a community festival, in Southwest Philly this weekend. If you’re interested in getting tested but need an ally there with you, Walker has your back.

The Kickback Cookout will be held this Saturday, June 25, at 5803 Kingsessing Ave. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.