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FREE TESTING OFFERED FOR NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

By FDOH-Escambia

February 05, 2018

Pensacola, Fla. –On Feb. 7, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) is providing free HIV testing and education at the 2018 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) event presented in collaboration with several community organizations.

WHAT:National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Event

WHEN:Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Mt. Canaan Baptist Church

                500 East Moreno Street

                Pensacola, FL 32503

NBHAAD is a national HIV/AIDS awareness initiative to encourage African Americans to get educated, get tested, get involved and get treated. This year’s theme is “Stay the Course, the Fight is Not Over,” serving as a reminder that there is much work to be done to reduce the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on the African American community.

While African Americans represent only 14 percent of the U.S. population, they account for almost half of all new HIV infections in the U.S. each year. In Escambia County, FL, African Americans represent only 23 percent of the population, but in 2016, made up 46 percent of reported HIV cases.

Indeed, the fight is not over. However, we are heartened by the fact that the number of new HIV cases for African American men who have sex with men in 2016 declined by 4.8 percent from the number of new cases reported in 2012 in Escambia County, FL.

HIV Prevention Strategies

  • Educate yourself and others on HIV and how the disease is spread: CDC HIV Basics
  • Get tested, have your partner get tested, and share results with each other. CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once.
  • Limit your number of sexual partners, and practice safe sex.
  • Learn about new HIV prevention medications, such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

For information regarding testing locations, HIV education classes or PrEP, please call FDOH-Escambia’s Area 1 HIV/AIDS program at 850-595-6345, or visit www.EscambiaHealth.com.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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