December 1st is World AIDS Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2021
Contact
Candi Crause, Director
(217) 531-5372 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
December 1st is World AIDS Day
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Everyone to Get Tested
Champaign, IL – Annually, December 1st is observed as World AIDS Day in an effort to raise awareness of the global impact of HIV/AIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that more than one million people are living with HIV in the United States and 33.4 million worldwide. Of the 12,000 new infections each year, one in four is in youth 13 to 24 years old.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages people to get tested and know their status. The CDC estimates that of the one million people living in the United States with HIV, one in five is unaware of their infection. According to Candi Crause, Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management, “HIV is 100% preventable. The key to overcoming this epidemic is to not only educate people on the facts of HIV/AIDS but to open the lines of communication. HIV spreads through silence and lack of communication. Access to testing and risk reduction supplies is crucial.”
CUPHD provides case management services for over 300 HIV-positive clients in 17 counties in East Central Illinois. Services include medical and dental assistance, nutritional assistance, utility and housing assistance, legal assistance, mental health assistance and support group assistance.
CUPHD’s Infectious Disease division offers HIV education, prevention and testing at the 201 West Kenyon Road facility in Champaign. Testing is available Monday thru Friday, 8:30 – 11:30 AM and 1:00 – 4:30 PM.
For more information on HIV/AIDS, call (217) 531-5365 or visit www.c-uphd.org.
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