March 7, 2016

IMPORTANCE OF HIV TESTING HIGHLIGHTED ON NATIONAL WOMEN AND GIRLS HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—Join the Florida Department of Health on Thursday, March 10 in support of the 11^th Annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). On this day, we unite with community and national partners to empower women and girls to make the best choices when it comes to sexual health. From 2010 through 2014, the number of new diagnoses of HIV infection among adult women (age 13+) in Florida decreased by 18 percent, but there is still more to accomplish.

“The department is fully committed to eliminating HIV/AIDS by working with every affected community in Florida,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong.  "Florida is a leader in comprehensive HIV/AIDS programs, not only measured by the $320 million budget and over 1,000 department public health professionals in the programs, but with the largest testing program in the nation linked to rapid access to care and community investment in prevention. Deaths from AIDS and transmission of the virus from HIV-positive moms to their babies are at record lows."

As of 2014, approximately 28 percent of people living with HIV in Florida were women. Currently, Florida continues to lead the nation in the number of HIV tests conducted at over 1,500 publicly funded and registered sites. The department is focused on surveillance, education, prevention, testing, counseling, care and treatment for HIV/AIDS. You can view our interactive map to find nearby sites for counseling, testing and referral.

In addition to testing at county health departments, the Florida HIV/AIDS Hotline is the statewide resource for HIV/AIDS-related information, community referrals and telephone counseling. The department facilitates nearly 30 minority initiatives to reduce the number of new HIV diagnoses in the state. 

To learn more about NWGHAAD, please visit womenshealth.gov and for Florida specific information on HIV/AIDS prevention, visit the prevention program homepage. 

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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