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For Release Thursday 26th
June, 2002 |
CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR |
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PHONE:561-355-3576
FAX:561- 355-3038 |
TALLAHASSEE—On June 27th, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) will once again participate in “National HIV Testing Day,” a nationwide campaign sponsored by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). This special day is designed to make people more aware of the potential risk for HIV infection and to learn their HIV status. The goal is for people to “take the test” to determine their status and to “take control” by returning for their test results.
“The first step is to get people to learn their HIV status,“ said DOH’s HIV/AIDS Bureau Chief Tom Liberti. “Unfortunately, not all persons tested come back for their test results.
Getting tested and learning your HIV status can help improve the length and quality of your life.” Liberti also stressed the bureau’s goal of increasing the estimated proportion of infected people who know their status from the current 70% to 95%.
The Department of Health, in collaboration with many community-based organizations and individuals throughout the state, has been fighting this epidemic on many fronts. Efforts include tracking cases of HIV and AIDS, implementing a comprehensive prevention strategy, and providing care and treatment for those already infected.
DOH partners with hundreds of county health departments, community-based organizations and faith-based agencies to provide convenient test result appointment times and locations to ensure people return for test results and counseling. While it is important on HIV Testing Day to make testing accessible and available to as many people as possible, it is equally important to provide high-quality prevention counseling and risk assessment to ensure that those tested learn their HIV status.
Once people learn they are infected with HIV, they are linked directly into primary medical care, social support systems and other services that can help them live long, productive lives. According to Liberti, despite the bureau’s best efforts, some people are “lost” to care for extended periods after their initial test. This is especially true for minority populations.
The Bureau of HIV/AIDS has implemented a number of initiatives to reach minorities. These include the Minority AIDS Initiative, which consists of eight funded projects around the state; and a media campaign to raise awareness of free or low cost medications eligible persons may receive through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
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