Free rapid HIV testing, food and services offered at Fresno clinic event
On December 4, Clinica Sierra Vista held a community event at the Orange & Butler Community Health Center offering free rapid HIV testing alongside free produce, ice cream and outreach from about 10 local organizations. The event aimed to reduce barriers to screening and connect residents to health and social services, a step with clear implications for public health and equity across Fresno County.
Clinica Sierra Vista brought free rapid HIV testing and community resources to the Orange & Butler Community Health Center at 1350 S. Orange Ave. on December 4. Testing was confidential and could be completed in under 20 minutes. Alongside screening, the clinic distributed free produce and ice cream and hosted outreach from roughly 10 local organizations offering a variety of services.
The event sought to lower logistical and social obstacles that often prevent people from getting tested. Clinic staff encouraged residents to be screened even if they had no symptoms, underlining that early detection improves health outcomes and helps prevent further transmission. By pairing testing with food distribution and onsite services, the clinic aimed to bring health care into everyday settings and reduce stigma associated with clinic only visits.
For Fresno County, this integrated approach addresses pressing public health and social equity concerns. Access to free, rapid testing removes cost barriers and the promise of results in under 20 minutes reduces the burden of follow up. Offering food resources at the same time recognizes the influence of social determinants on health, providing immediate relief for food insecurity while creating an entry point to health care. Outreach from multiple local organizations expanded the event beyond testing, enabling connections to broader support systems that many residents rely on.
Events like this serve as a complement to broader public health efforts by making screening accessible, confidential and community centered. They also highlight gaps that remain in sustained access to prevention and care, particularly for low income and underserved populations who face transportation challenges, work schedule constraints and stigma. Sustained investment in community outreach and culturally responsive services is needed to translate one day of screening into long term improvements in diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Clinica Sierra Vista described the event as part of ongoing outreach designed to meet people where they are and to reduce barriers to early detection and care. Such efforts can strengthen local disease prevention strategies while addressing the social needs that shape health across Fresno County.
