Care Resource Recognized as a Ryan White Provider During AIDS Awareness Month
On Tuesday, December 3, the Broward County Commission recognized Ryan White Part A provider agencies, including Care Resource. Through this program, people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured can access a comprehensive system of care.
Pictured above(left to right) Hugo Rocchia, Behavioral Health Services Manager, Ausline Perry, Director of Dental Care Services, and Thomas Smith, Director of Behavioral Health Services.
Ausline Perry, Director of Dental Care Services, Hugo Rocchia, Behavioral Health Services Manager, and Thomas Smith, Director of Behavioral Health Services, also received a proclamation designating December 2019 as AIDS Awareness Month.
According to the 2018 Florida Department of Health Surveillance Report, 119, 661 Florida residents live with HIV/AIDS, 21,048 of these being Broward County residents. AIDS Awareness Month celebrates the steadfast fight against the epidemic, and the advances made in prevention, treatment, and care.
Care Resource has raised awareness around the U=U campaign, meaning that individuals with HIV who undergo antiretroviral therapy (ART) can achieve viral suppression, making it impossible to transmit the virus sexually.
It is an opportunity to discuss new understandings about HIV/AIDS, including that ‘Undetectable=Untransmittable’ (U=U).
Those without HIV can protect themselves with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a biomedical HIV prevention method. These facts have empowered individuals living with or exposed to HIV/AIDS, to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
In addition, patients are increasingly linked to the Test and Treat Program (T&T), which initiates Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) within 24 hours of an HIV diagnosis for patients who are newly diagnosed or who were previously in care. Early detection leads to better outcomes.
Broward County provides critical life-saving health and support services for underserved populations affected by HIV. The Broward County HIV Health Services Planning Council assesses the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, develops a comprehensive plan to meet identified needs, allocates funds in support of essential services, and evaluates the efficiency of the system of care. Broward’s steadfast efforts to link residents living with HIV to care, retain them in care, and achieve viral load suppression, are a reflection of a local commitment to the global fight.
About Care Resource:
Care Resource is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with four locations in Midtown Miami, Little Havana, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The health center provides comprehensive health and support services to address the full health care needs of South Florida’s pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations.
For Media Inquiries or additional article information, please contact Jonathan Welsh, Associate Director of Development and Communications at jwelsh@careresource.org
