From October 20 to 26, New York is recognizing its first ever PrEP Awareness Week.
Launched by the AIDS Institute, "PrEP Aware" is a public education campaign with activities across NYS to educate communities about PrEP. PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV, and we must now take every step possible to raise awareness about PrEP.
How can PrEP help?
Studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken daily (CDC). However, still today, too many people are unaware of PrEP, mistakenly think it is unaffordable for them, don’t know where to get PrEP, fear stigma around PrEP, or have inaccurate information about side effects. We must employ culturally relevant messages to address each of these misconceptions.
To learn more about PrEP Aware Week, you can visit www.prepforsex.org.
Why is PrEP important?
PrEP Aware is essential to address a significant health disparity, and we should approach activities as such. Of the 2,769 new HIV diagnoses in New York State in 2017, greater than 78% were among people of color. At the same time, recent data released at CROI demonstrate that rates of PrEP uptake among non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics are very low.
We can be proud of the fact that, today, we see very little difference in access to HIV treatment by race or ethnicity. This was not always the case. Applying what we learned in the past, we must now take every action possible to achieve high levels of PrEP access and utilization across all of our communities.
What are Apicha CHC's goals during PrEP Aware Week?
- Increase community awareness of the persistent disparities in new HIV diagnosis among men who have sex with men who are Asian & Pacific Islanders and increase this community’s awareness of the benefits of PrEP.
- Increase community awareness among heterosexual women of the benefits of PrEP.
- Inform our patients of the benefits of PrEP.
Join Apicha CHC in celebrating PrEP Aware Week!
In collaboration with GAPIMNY and Chinese Rainbow Network, Apicha CHC will be holding a free HIV testing and STI screening as part of PrEP Aware Week.
When: Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 7 pm to 9 pm
Where: Atlas Social Club (Hell's Kitchen), 753 9th Ave., New York NY 10019
How Apicha CHC can help you
At Apicha CHC, we are very proud of our viral load suppression rate for all our patients, the number of our patients on PrEP, and the number of people we get tested.
Our healthcare providers are specialists in HIV prevention, treatment, and care. If you come for testing and remain for care at our community health center, you will receive consistent treatment from a healthcare provider who can attend to all of your health needs including HIV. You can request an appointment here, or click the link below.
