National Women’s and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2021

National Womens and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day National Women’s and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, is observed annually on March 10. Women and girls in South Florida, a high-prevalence area of HIV, need the support of community-based health centers (CHCs), community organizations, and loved ones, in protecting themselves.

To end the HIV epidemic in the United States, we must care for women and girls who are at high risk and encounter barriers to healthcare. It’s essential that they have opportunities to ask questions, discuss concerns, get tested, and follow through with medical treatment.

Any woman who engages in sexual intercourse is at risk of HIV infection, no matter her race, ethnicity, age, or sexual orientation. If she chooses to have sex, there are many ways to prevent HIV transmission, such as using a male or female condom; being in a monogamous sexual relationship with only one partner, and getting tested for STIs.

All women and girls should know their HIV status. Care Resource offers an at-home HIV testing program with contactless delivery of testing kits to Broward and Miami-Dade residents. Within 20 minutes, individuals find out their status and work alongside a testing counselor to decide the next steps. Those who receive a positive result will be linked to medical and behavioral health providers in order to receive appropriate treatment and counseling. Patients who have not previously tested positive for HIV and who have not tested within three months can register here for an at-home test. The health center also offers no-cost rapid swab testing and is confidential to all, with priority given to pregnant or parenting women and anyone using injection drugs.

If a woman does not have HIV and her partner does, they can talk to a Care Resource PrEP navigator about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a daily pill that can protect individuals from HIV. Women who have been exposed to HIV can contact Care Resource’s post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) hotline for immediate support. PEP is an anti-HIV medicine that can be taken within 72 hours of possible exposure to lower the chances of acquiring HIV.

PEP/PrEP Hotline: 347-919-8904

Care Resource’s medical providers and healthcare specialists empower our patients to expand their health literacy and better their overall wellness. On March 12th, the health center will air “The Health Connection: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness,” to share essential information on HIV/AIDS transmission, prevention, and care for women. Community members can tune in at 1 pm at Facebook.com/careresource.

Everyone has a role to play in HIV prevention. Having open conversations about sexual wellness and sharing resources within our communities can help us end this epidemic together.

For media inquiries, please contact Jonathan Welsh, Associate Director of Communications and Development at jwelsh@careresource.org.