HIV Prevention SHD

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South Georgia Partnership To End Homelessness
N Lee Street

Thank you to everyone who attended our World AIDS Day luncheon. And a special thanks to our guest speaker Dr. Stacy Smallwood, Mayor Scott Matheson and County Commissioner Scott Orenstein for presenting the World AIDS Day proclamation and District Health Director Dr. Mark Eanes for sharing the welcoming remarks.

12/01/2023

Today, on World AIDS Day, let us honor and remember those we have lost to the AIDS pandemic and those that live with the virus. As a reminder, we are hosting our World AIDS Day recognition event today at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts from 11:30AM-12:30PM.

11/23/2023

REMINDER: All South Health District clinics and offices will be closed today, November 13, and tomorrow, November 14, in observance of Thanksgiving. Offices will reopen Monday, November 27 at 8AM.

11/16/2023

We are excited to announce our annual World AIDS Day recognition event. It will be held on on December 1 at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts located at 527 N Patterson Street in Valdosta from 11:30AM-12:30PM. Guest speaker will be Dr. Stacy Smallwood Associate Professor of Health Policy and Community Health with Georgia Southern University. To register visit: www.southhealthdistrict.com/WAD2023

FULL RELEASE: https://southhealthdistrict.com/2023/11/world-aids-day-2023/

09/04/2023

ATTENTION: All South Health District clinics and offices will open tomorrow 9/5/2023 for normal business hours.

08/31/2023

ATTENTION: All offices and clinics in Lowndes, Echols, Berrien, Cook, Lanier and Brooks will remain closed Friday, September 1. Ben Hill, Irwin, Tift and Turner clinics will be open tomorrow. ALL offices will be closed for the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept 4.

08/30/2023

ATTENTION: All offices and clinics will remain closed Thursday, August 31. We will determine a plan for reopening on Friday once we have had time to assess any damages to our facilities. Our thoughts and prayers are with our communities as we all begin the process of recovering.

08/29/2023

ATTENTION: All South Health District health departments, clinics and offices will be closed Wednesday, August 30 due to Hurricane Idalia. We plan to reopen August 31. If that changes we will update on our website and social media.

08/18/2023

Members of our team, Melissa Foster and Ansherri Scales provided health education to the woman of the Pines Rehabilitation Center.

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HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM

HIV FAST FACTS

1 in 7 people are unaware of their status.

22% of people aged 13-24 are HIV positive.

37,968 people in the U.S. received an HIV diagnosis in 2018.

HIV/AIDS is still the top 10 leading cause of death for those aged 25-44.

The south has the highest number of people living with HIV, accounting for 51% of the total HIV/AIDS population in the united states.

Worldwide, there were about 1.7 million new cases of HIV in 2018. About 37.9 million people were living with HIV around the world in 2018.

To address HIV in the South Health District, the HIV Prevention Program provides free HIV testing, linkage to care for persons who are diagnosed HIV positive, and linkage to PrEP for those who are HIV negative but are engaging in activities which place them at high risk for HIV infection. Studies have consistently found that HIV negative persons on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, do not become HIV positive, and HIV positive persons linked to care who achieve viral suppression (undetectable) live healthy lives and do not infect others.

HIV PREVENTION SERVICES PROVIDED

Free HIV tests

Free condoms

Linkage to HIV Care

Linkage to PrEP

Community education and Screenings

HIV TESTING

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to help take the steps to keep you and your partner healthy!

All health departments in the South Health District provide HIV testing at no charge. This includes Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes,Tift and Turner.

What should I expect?

HIV testing is 100% confidential and conducted by certified HIV Testing Counselors. Your Testing Counselor will talk to you about HIV risk factors, answer your questions and discuss prevention measures. A sample is collected through a small finger prick and the result of your rapid HIV antibody test is completed in as quickly as one minute.

What if my test is reactive/positive?

A confirmatory test will be conducted. If that follow-up test is also positive, it is a confirmed HIV diagnosis and you will be connected to a Linkage Coordinator.

Contact Information: HIV testing, condom distribution, and outreach requests: (229) 245-8711

Free Condoms by Mail

Stay protected during the pandemic. Call our confidential condom line at (229) 245-8711, Ext. 209. and leave your name, mailing address, phone number (only needed for address confirmation) and preferred condom pack (Magnum pack, variety pack, non-latex male pack, or internal condoms – previously known as female condoms), and we will mail them to you.

Click To Access Our Online Request Form

Linkage to Care Program

Linkage Coordinators assist both newly and previously diagnosed HIV-positive individuals access care and services.

For additional information or to refer a client, providers may contact the Linkage to Care Program at (229) 245-8711.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

“PrEP” stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool which prevents HIV negative individuals with very high risk behavior from becoming HIV positive. PrEP combined with condoms and other prevention methods provide even greater protection to prevent HIV and STI than when used alone. Individuals who use PrEP must commit to taking the drug every day and seeing their health care provider for follow-up every 3 months.

Community Education and Screenings

Community outreach plays a key role in delivering prevention services to our community. While we offer a variety of services, our staff also provides testing and education services throughout the South Health District. Whether testing off-site, attending health fairs, or providing education to classrooms, our Prevention Specialists are equipped to provide a high-quality testing experience in addition to up-to-date information regarding HIV prevention strategies