HARRISBURG, Pa. — Thursday is World AIDS Day. Though HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence like it was decades ago, health experts say there’s still a stigma surrounding the virus.
“While there is still stigma when we’re doing our outreach,” said Caring Together program manager Becky Wilson, “We’re able to connect with people and have open conversations.”
In York and Adams counties, Family First Health has offered the grant-funded Caring Together program for about 30 years. The clinic offers free testing, resources and treatment options.
Wilson says testing is key to reigning in HIV spread in our community.
“It’s a small prick of a finger and you know your results in 15 minutes,” she said.
It’s not the 80s anymore when it comes to HIV treatment and prevention. HIV is now known as a chronic condition like high blood pressure or diabetes.
Wilson says many people are living long, healthy lives with HIV.
Several new medical advancements have made HIV/AIDS treatment attainable. A new monthly injectable treatment called Cabenuva can suppress symptoms and prevent transmission.
A medication called PrEP can prevent contracting HIV and PEP can prevent contracting the virus after someone has been exposed.
“We are continuing to see new people diagnosed every week,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of resources we can provide so people don’t have to pay for those things.”
Caring Together has about 600 HIV/AIDS patients. The issue the center is seeing now, is testing is way down compared to before the pandemic.
The pandemic did reduce the number of tests Caring Together is administering each year.
In 2019, Caring Together tested over 900 people.
That number dropped dramatically in 2020 to just over 150 people.
This year so from January to September, Caring Together tested 362 people.
“If people aren’t even getting tested,” Wilson said. “They aren’t taking the measures to protect themselves and protect others.”
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