HIV/AIDS Prevention / Public News Service

Annual infections have decreased by more than two-thirds since the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, June 27, 2022

Doctors, Advocates: Know Your Status This National HIV Testing Day

Today is National HIV Testing Day, and doctors and advocates for people living with HIV and AIDS are urging everyone to make sure they know their …

In 2019, an estimated 19.2 million women were living with HIV, and every week, more than 5,000 young women aged 15 to 24 around the globe become newly infected with HIV, <a href= — In 2019, an estimated 19.2 million women were living with HIV, and every week, more than 5,000 young women aged 15 to 24 around the globe become newly infected with HIV, according to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. (Adobe Stock)

Faith Groups Work to Reduce Stigma Around HIV Testing

Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and one in nine women with HIV are unaware they have it. Faith leaders in North Carolina …

Maryland also offers the Maryland AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which ensures underinsured and uninsured people living with HIV/AIDS in the state are able to pay for medication. (Adobe Stock)

MD Groups Host Health Insurance Events for Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 7 marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and Maryland health-care advocates see it as an opportunity to provide health-care options …

At the start of 2020, nearly 25,000 Ohioans had been diagnosed with HIV, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

In Ohio, Telehealth Makes HIV Care More Accessible

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Today marks World AIDS Day, observed internationally to remember those lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and raise awareness about the …

More than 4,500 Michiganders take PrEP, a HIV-prevention medication. (Adobe Stock)

Summit to Debunk Myths, Stigma Around HIV for Michigan Youth

LANSING, Mich. - Organizers of a summit about sexual health will provide a safe space on Friday for young Michiganders to have open, honest and …

Missouri, Nevada, Illinois and Oregon are among the most recent states to update their HIV laws.(nito/Adobe Stock)

MO Makes First Update to HIV Criminalization Laws in 30 Years

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A bill that went into effect over the weekend makes the first reforms to Missouri's HIV criminalization laws since they were …

Nearly 90% of Americans acknowledged there is a stigma surrounding HIV in a 2020 survey by GLAAD. Proponents of National HIV Testing Day hope to help change that. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

MO Groups Call Testing Key, Strive to End HIV Stigma

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- This Sunday is National HIV Testing Day, when people are urged to find out their HIV status to protect themselves and their …

The theme of this year's National HIV Testing Day is "My Test, My Way," emphasizing the multiple ways to get tested. 2021 marks 40 years since the first cases of HIV and AIDS were reported. (jarun011/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge MA Residents to Get Tested for HIV, Work to End Stigma

WORCESTER, Ma. -- This Sunday is National HIV Testing Day, when people are urged to find out their HIV status and work to end the stigma around HIV …

Sunday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day. Healthcare experts urge people who are sexually active to get tested for HIV once every three months to stay up-to-date on your status. (ronstik/Adobe Stock)

HIV Prevention Experts Urge Regular Testing

CHICAGO -- This Sunday is National HIV Testing Day, when people are urged to find out their HIV status and work to end the stigma around HIV and AIDS…

Anyone who has unprotected sex is urged to get an HIV test at least every six months. (davide bonaldo/Adobe Stock)

Ohio Advocate: 'Deafening Silence' on Need for HIV Testing

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- This Sunday is National HIV Testing Day, when people are urged to find out their HIV status and work to end the stigma around HIV …

The fight against HIV/AIDS continues, 40 years after the disease began to ravage American cities and towns. (Nito/Adobe Stock)

Californians Mark 40th Anniversary of AIDS Epidemic

LOS ANGELES -- Forty years ago this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of what would become known as HIV/…

Studies show that needle exchanges save the lives of thousands of drug users each year, and slows the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other infectious diseases. (Wikimedia Commons)

AZ Lawmakers Legalize Needle-Exchange Programs to Fight HIV, Opioids

PHOENIX -- Health-care advocates say Arizona's new needle exchange law could not only save millions of dollars in health care but also slow the spread…

Take-home naloxone programs are becoming more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobestock/Flickr)

Opioid Crisis: Free Kits Can Reverse Effects of Overdose

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The public health spotlight is on COVID-19, but the opioid epidemic still is a major priority in Ohio with a continued tragically …

Sex education covers healthy relationships, body autonomy, consent, hygiene and elements of social/emotional learning. (Adobe Stock)

Online Learning Could Be a Benefit for Teaching Sex-Ed

LANSING, Mich. -- Virtual learning could prove to be a benefit for teaching Michigan kids about sexual health. The Michigan Department of Education …

Like prisons and jails, immigration detention centers are potential hotspots for the spread of COVID-19. (Antwon McMullen/Adobe Stock)

LGBT Immigrant Detainees at Heightened Risk

NEW YORK -- Immigrants held in crowded Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers are extremely vulnerable to the spread of infectious dise…

Nonprofits that serve the LGBTQ community are going virtual with their programs, including those to engage people in the 2020 census and the November elections. (MXRuben/Morguefile)

COVID-19 Hits LGBTQ Nonprofits Hard; CARES Act Provides Grants, Loans

LOS ANGELES -- The COVID-19 crisis is really hurting nonprofit organizations -- in particular those that serve vulnerable populations. The LGBTQ …

Minnesota and a number of other states have a goal of seeing zero new HIV cases, and advocates believe that can be reached within the next few years. (healthynewbornnetwork.org)

MN Nonprofit Hopes New Campaign Efforts Curb HIV Cases

MINNEAPOLIS — December is AIDS Awareness Month, and a Minnesota nonprofit hopes more people at risk of contracting the disease will become …

Narcan, also known as naloxone, can reverse overdoses while they're happening. (Gov. Tom Wolf/Flickr)

Overdose Awareness Day: Montanans Honor Lives Lost

MISSOULA, Mont. – Montanans on Thursday are remembering lives lost to overdose in Missoula. The organization Open Aid Alliance is marking …

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, people at greatest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS include intravenous drug users and men who have sex with other men. (rebcenter-moscow/Pixabay)

Minnesota Makes Bold Moves to Eliminate HIV/AIDS

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota has introduced aggressive new measures to end HIV and AIDS in the state. The Minnesota Department of Health …

Half of all young people living with HIV do not know they are infected. (pxhere)

Minority Youths Bearing Biggest Impact of HIV

NEW YORK – Wednesday was National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day, and this year the focus is on HIV-related health disparities and barriers …

Advocates of equality in health care services are calling on the U.S. Congress to protect Medicare Part D from changes proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (aradvocates.org)

Healthcare Advocates Oppose Changes to Medicare Part D

ST. PAUL, Minn. – From coast to coast, people who rely on Medicare Part D could be left without their medications if a proposal by the Centers …

A new Trump administration program is designed to cut new HIV infections by 75 percent in five years and 90 percent by 2030. (ArkansasRAPPS)

Arkansas Awaits Details of Trump's HIV Prevention Program

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Public-health advocates in Arkansas are still waiting to hear the details of a recently announced federal initiative aimed …

Sexual education in public schools in Kentucky does not require information on contraception. (Nate Grigg/Flickr)

Kentucky Continues to Fail on Reproductive Health

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A new report demonstrates the divide between states that prioritize reproductive health and those that do not - and Kentucky …

A program in Clatsop County that provides clean needles for drug users has given out 250,000 needles since it began in 2017. (opiateaddictiontreatment/Flickr)

Opioid Crisis: Oregon Syringe Exchanges a "Gateway" to Help

ASTORIA, Ore. – Syringe exchange programs are opening up access to health care for some Oregonians. Exchanges provide clean needles to …

Montgomery County Schools began the school year by offering free condoms at four high schools before expanding countywide. (Pixabay)

Montgomery Co. Public Schools Expand Free Condom Program

ROCKVILLE, Md. – After seeing a double-digit surge in chlamydia and gonorrhea, the Montgomery County school board voted unanimously Tuesday to …

The program delivers prescription medications directly to participants through the mail. (bluebudgie/Pixabay)

Program Helps People with HIV Get their Meds

HARTFORD, Conn. – Low-income people who are HIV positive can now get their medications delivered to their door free of charge. The Community …

Previous attempts to defund Planned Parenthood have sparked protests nationwide. (Fibonacci Blue (CC by 2.0)/Flickr)

Health Care Providers Gear Up (Again) As Trump's New Gag Rule Targets Planned Parenthood

WICASSET, Maine – If President Donald Trump's new effort succeeds to impose a so-called gag rule on family planning centers, access to women's …

Contraception, STD screenings, mammograms and Pap smears are among the services provided to Nebraskans who rely on Title X clinics for care. (Nate Grigg/Flickr)

Preventive Health Care at Risk in Budget Debate, Advocates Say

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska's budget debate has been consumed by the fight over Title 10 funding and abortions, and today's hearing in Lincoln is …

Ohioans who are more educated about syringe exchanges show more support for the programs, compared with those who are less familiar. (Todd Huffman/Flickr)

Needle Exchanges Called Powerful Weapon to Fight Opioid Abuse

COLUMBUS, Ohio – With Ohio still in the grip of the opioid crisis, new data suggests better education is needed about the benefits of one harm …

HIV tests are free today at the Planned Parenthood health centers in Colorado Springs, Greeley and Salida, and at the Jefferson County Public Health clinic in Lakewood. (Pixabay)

Tracking Progress on World AIDS Day

BOULDER, Co. – Today is World AIDS Day, and people around the world are doubling down on prevention efforts, and remembering lives lost…

Pre-Exposure prophylaxis can be up to 98 percent effective at preventing HIV infections. (Pixabay)

HIV-Prevention Medication Shows Promise in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Health care advocates in Ohio are excited about a promising treatment to prevent the spread of HIV. Pre-Exposure prophylaxis…

Medical experts say continued access to health care is important for those with an HIV diagnosis. <br />(Wheeler Cowperthwaite/Flickr) — Medical experts say continued access to health care is important for those with an HIV diagnosis.
(Wheeler Cowperthwaite/Flickr)

Ohioans with HIV Still Concerned Following Failure of ACA Repeal

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The latest roadblock in efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act has many Ohioans living with HIV and AIDS relieved, but still …

In Ohio, 3.4 percent of residents identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, but support groups predict the number actually is much higher. (Pixabay)

LGBTQ Pride and Prevention in June

COLUMBUS, Ohio – June is National LGBTQ Pride Month, and health care advocates in Ohio are promoting the importance of both pride and …

Conservation is being highlighted today for World Water Day to help those without clean water around the globe. (unwater.org)

Conservation Highlighted During Today's World Water Day

ST. PAUL, Minn. – This is World Water Day, and Minnesotans are being asked to step up conservation to help people in this country and all over …

More than 663 million people around the world live without a safe water supply close to home. (Pixabay)

Iowans Can Save Water to Help at Home and Abroad

DES MOINES, Iowa – On this World Water Day, Iowans are being asked to step up conservation to help people, not only in the U.S. but around the …

Water Conservation: An Issue for Nebraska and the Globe

LINCOLN, Neb. – On this World Water Day, Nebraskans are being asked to step up conservation to help people, not only in the U.S. but around the …

Employees of the North Carolina AIDS Action Network are pushing for the state to increase funding for diagnosis and treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases. (NCAAN)

NC AIDS Epidemic: End in Sight?

RALEIGH, N.C. - More than 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported in North Carolina and the rest of the world, developments in …

About 1.2 million Americans, including 2,000 Iowans, are living with HIV. (NIAID)

Testing and Treatment: Keys to Ending AIDS Epidemic

DES MOINES, Iowa -- This year marks the 35th anniversary of the first detection of HIV. And while research has changed outcomes for those living with …

More than 80 percent of LGBT people live in states with laws that criminalize HIV status. (Geralt/Pixabay)<br /> — More than 80 percent of LGBT people live in states with laws that criminalize HIV status. (Geralt/Pixabay)

Report Highlights Outdated HIV Criminalization Laws

NEW YORK – Today is World AIDS Day and a new report shows that most Americans live in states where outdated laws still can criminalize HIV posit…

About 22,000 Ohioans are currently living with HIV. (Pixabay)

World AIDS Day Highlights Testing, Treatment, Prevention

COLUMBUS, Ohio — This year marks the 35th anniversary of the first detection of HIV. And while research has changed the outcomes for those …

There's still time for transgender Coloradans to enroll in the state's health-insurance marketplace. (Pixabay)

Navigating Transgender Health Coverage in Colorado

DENVER -- A Trump presidency puts the future of the Affordable Care Act into question, but from now through the end of January, Coloradans still can …

Missouri has about 500 new cases of HIV diagnosed each year. Most are men, and about half are in communities of color. (CDC)

Spotlight on Preventing HIV/AIDS This Month

ST. LOUIS - Missouri continues to be in the top half of state rankings for new cases of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. Around 500 new cases …

Gov. Cuomo pledged $200 million to fight AIDS in the 2016-17 budget. (GovernorAndrewCuomo/Flickr)

HIV/AIDS Funding Short in State Budget

NEW YORK - The new state budget falls far short of funds promised to fight HIV/AIDS in New York, according to advocates. Last year on World AIDS …

With April being STD Awareness Month, state health officials are urging sexually active North Dakotans to take simple steps to protect themselves. (iStockphoto)

STD Awareness Month: Urging Young North Dakotans to Talk, Test, Treat

BISMARCK, N.D. - April is STD Awareness Month, and the North Dakota Department of Health is urging residents to safeguard themselves through some …

Health advocates say giving drug users access to sterile needles will help fight the spread of HIV. (xenia/morguefile)

Syringe Exchange Soon Could Be Reality in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - With Florida leading the nation in the number of new HIV cases and facing a growing heroin epidemic, health advocates say a …

In 2013, only 48 percent of HIV+ 13- to 24-year-olds had suppressed viral loads. (PAHO/flickr.com)

Cuomo says Access to HIV Treatment Critical for Youth

NEW YORK - Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants minors to be able to get treatment for HIV without parental consent. Under current state law, people younger than …

President Barack Obama is proposing additional funding for rape kit reform across the country. Tennessee still has thousands of untested kits. (U.S. Army/Flickr)

More Funding Proposed for Rape-Kit Testing Reform

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – President Barack Obama has included an additional $41 million in funding for rape kit testing reform in his 2017 budget…

North Carolina may have thousands of untested rape kits, but law enforcement agencies in the state aren't required to track the numbers. (University of Michigan/Flickr)

Proposed Funding Offers Justice for NC Sexual-Assault Survivors

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – More money could be on the way for processing rape kits in North Carolina, if President Barack Obama's 2017 budget …

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