Saturday, June 27, 2020

June 27 Marks HIV Testing Day - At Home Testing Now Ready

LABELLE, FL. -- June 27 marks the annual observance of National HIV Testing Day, and this year, the Florida Department of Health is pleased to announce its endorsement of the Prevention Access Campaign's Undetectable=Untransmittable campaign, or U=U.

Nearly 1,000 organizations around the world support the science-backed message that people living with HIV who use antiretroviral therapy and have an undetectable viral load in their blood have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting HIV.

U=U seeks to provide straightforward messaging that makes it abundantly clear that a person living with HIV who is virally suppressed cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners.

At the end of 2018, 119,661 Floridians were confirmed to be living with HIV, 36% of whom were not virally suppressed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an additional 17,700 Floridians were living with HIV but unaware of it.

State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said, "Every Floridian needs to know their HIV status and receive the care that is appropriate for them. For those living with HIV, treatment with antiretroviral medication typically leads to long, healthy lives, but it is also an important prevention strategy.”

Getting tested and knowing your status is the first step toward effective HIV prevention. Everyone ages 13–64 should get tested for HIV at least once, and some people should get tested more often. Visit KnowYourHIVStatus.com to learn about testing options in your area or to order a free at-home HIV testing kit mailed directly to the address of your choice (while supplies last).

(Photo Above: OraQuick Home Test Kit)

Earlier diagnosis and treatment lead to more positive health and prevention outcomes, but it's never too late to engage in care. There are many resources available to help people living with HIV. Visit the  patient care site to learn about programs that can provide treatment, medication, and housing assistance.

There are also many prevention options for those who test negative. A health care provider can help determine appropriate next steps, which might include talking to your HIV-positive partner about U=U or taking PrEP and using condoms to reduce your risk of acquiring HIV. You can use the PrEP locator to find out where to get PrEP in your area.

Get the power to both prevent and treat HIV. For more information, call 1-800-FLA-AIDS, or 1-800-352-2437; en Espanol, 1-800-545-SIDA; in Creole, 1-800-AIDS-101. To learn where to get tested, visit KnowYourHIVStatus.com.

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