Hot dogs, games and face painting were part of the free National HIV Testing Day Tuesday at Mansion Square Park in Poughkeepsie.

The day was meant to encourage City of Poughkeepsie residents to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus, commonly known as HIV, a retrovirus that is the cause of AIDS, a syndrome that causes the immune system to fail and cancer or serious infections to occur.

About 30 people were tested, while more than 200 were estimated to have attended the event.

‘‘Most people who have it don’t realize it,’’ said Anya Gronei, a health educator from Planned Parenthood of the Mid Hudson Valley, which co-sponsored the event with AIDS-Related Community Services.

‘‘Hopefully, by getting people tested, the rate of HIV will slow down in the Hudson Valley,’’ she said.

Party atmosphere

The day’s activities were planned to resemble a block party to make residents feel safe and comfortable about taking the test.

‘‘When planning the event, we talked about the HIV stigma,’’ Gronei said. ‘‘We wanted to make it festive.’’

Marilyn Rivera, senior program supervisor for AIDS-Related Community Services, stressed the importance of getting tested.

‘‘It is important for people to know their status,’’ she said. ‘‘It leads to better life quality.’’
Her organization provides HIV/AIDS services, including prevention education and outreach, to families in New York’s lower and mid-Hudson Valley regions.

The Hudson Valley has the highest infection rate in the state, outside of New York City, Rivera said.

She said testing positive early can help extend lives.

‘‘Just because you test positive doesn’t mean you have to stop living,’’ she said. ‘‘It could ensure a better quality of life if you know.’’

Bill Primavera, director of public relations and resource enhancement for AIDS-Related Community Services, was very happy with the City of Poughkeepsie’s response to the day
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‘‘Working with this town is the most exhilarating experience,’’ Primavera said. ‘‘They make it easy for us to put on these kinds of events.’’