Lisset Ivey, Senior Human Services Program Specialist, early intervention consultant, prevention training consultant with the HIV/AIDS program for the Department of Health in Monroe County, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about World AIDS Day.
It would be great to end the HIV epidemic in the world.
Ivey said, “Approximately there’s 1.2 million people in the US living with HIV, and about 13 to 15% of those people don’t know they’re living with HIV and need testing. So we at the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, we offer testing. It’s free, it’s confidential, it’s easy, and so do our local community providers. We also have free rapid HIV testing and in home self testing kits that we offer to the community through the health department as well. You can get your results in less than 20 minutes. And then you have the in home self testing kits that you can test yourself at home also, and it’s just a swab, so it’s a quick swab, and we’re also able to do it through telehealth and together with the person.”
How can you prevent HIV?
Ivey said, “We’ve come a long way, and we want everyone to get on PrEP if they feel that they need it. It’s a once a day pill that can be taken by anyone that’s HIV negative, and this reduces the risk of contracting HIV. It’s also in an injectable form now too.”
The treatment for HIV has advanced, too.
Ivey said, “Much advancement has been done over the years. Now it’s easy to be in care. There is also an injectable treatment now, as well as pill form, those living with HIV that are in treatment and care now are living really happy, long, healthy lives. HIV has kind of become a chronic disease, and it’s very hopeful that we’ve made these advancements, and we want to really keep them.”
It’s important to know your status for HIV.
Ivey said, “We want everybody to know their status. That’s the main key to take away is that it’s easy to get tested and it’s easy to know your status. We at the Florida Department of Health are here to help you.”
For more information, click here: https://monroe.floridahealth.gov