Do You Know Your Status?
Alarming news! Syphilis is back! Francene Marie sat down with Matt Jenkins to discuss HIV/AIDS. Do you know your HIV/AIDS status? How many times have you visited your doctor’s office to get tested? Please let me introduce you to Spokesperson – Matt Jenkins, HIV/STD Community Services Health Manager with Mecklenburg County who educates us in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are three strategies to combat STD’s! The Health Department notes a significant part of one of the three strategies of Getting to Zero Plan – which is a community plan aimed at reducing the number of new cases of HIV in the County. Major Southeast cities and counties, such as Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, are still experiencing high rates of new HIV infections. Testing and education events along with the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Strategy and Treatment as Prevention (TasP) Strategy intersect with important social and structural determinants of health, such as access to affordable housing, transportation, employment and economic opportunity, healthcare and health insurance, and unequal access to quality education. These factors are barriers to achieving health equity and contribute to HIV-related disparities in our community. Have you been tested yet? Please, know your HIV status.
