Jackson County Health Department to observe World AIDS Day on Dec. 1
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
MURPHYSBORO, Ill., (KBSI) – The Jackson County Health Department will join national and global health partners in recognizing World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, highlighting this year’s theme: “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.” The theme emphasizes the ongoing need for equitable and consistent access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.
According to HIV.gov, an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and about 13 percent do not know their status. Health officials note that early testing and treatment help individuals live longer, healthier lives and reduce the risk of transmission.
The Jackson County Health Department provides services through the Southern Illinois HIV Care Connect (SIHCC) program, which offers medical and social support to individuals living with HIV. The department reports that 95 percent of clients enrolled in the program are virally suppressed, meaning their viral load is undetectable and cannot be transmitted through sexual contact.
JCHD also offers low-cost HIV and STI testing, along with a PrEP clinic that provides free, once-daily medication proven to significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection.
