Jersey City Medical Center will host a free community screening event today for National HIV Testing Day.

National HIV Testing Day is a yearly awareness campaign urging people to learn their status regarding HIV.

The event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. at the new City Hall Annex, 360 Martin Luther King Drive.

Free HIV testing, HEP C testing, syphillis, and glucose screenings will be available on site. Lunch and free giveaways will also be provided to attendees.

JCMC is the official provider for all HIV tests and other health screenings at this year's event. Last year, JCMC tested around 150 people.

JCMC provides health and support services to HIV patients at its Center for Comprehensive Care program located at the Jersey City Medical Center at Greenville, located at 1825 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

The location provides free confidential HIV rapid testing and STD testing to individuals over the age of 13.

"It benefits everyone to get tested. Knowing your status is half the battle," said Whitney Bracco, Director of Operations at Jersey City Medical Center at Greenville.

For more information call 201-204-0004.

The event is sponsored by the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services/AIDS Task Force in partnership with Jersey City Medical Center Counseling and Testing Site and MASSH program, Hudson County HIV Planning Council, Hudson Pride, Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, Project LOL, Spectrum Health Care Inc., Catholic Charities, Jersey City Housing Authority, Garden State Episcopal Development Corp., CarePoint, Partnership for Maternal Child Health of Northern NJ.