Getting to Zero – Working to Eliminate HIV in Illinois
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2018
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Getting to Zero – Working to Eliminate HIV in Illinois
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Participate in Illinois HIV Town Hall Meeting
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be participating in a town hall meeting hosted by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago on Friday, January 26, 2018 focused on “Getting to Zero” (GTZ). The GTZ campaign aims to eliminate new HIV infections and reduce HIV mortality. CUPHD will host the event from 9:30 AM to Noon at 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. This meeting is one of a series of meetings to be held across the state of Illinois to focus on thoughts, ideas, and hopes for HIV elimination.
Getting to Zero consists of a framework focusing on no new HIV infections and ensuring that people living with HIV are receiving adequate treatment. CUPHD has a “GTZ” campaign called “CUatZero” that also addresses the stigma that many people face related to HIV disease. “HIV is very treatable and manageable today. For people who are active in HIV treatment, they are living longer, healthier lives, much like other persons with a chronic disease,” says Julie Pryde, Public Health Administrator.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of new HIV infections has dropped by 18 percent from 2008-2014. These gains have been credited to increased investments in treatment and viral suppression for persons living with HIV and PrEP (a pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP is up to 99 percent effective in preventing a new HIV infection. With these interventions, Illinois could see fewer than 100 new HIV cases each year by 2027.
CUPHD provides a wide array of HIV-related services weekdays from 8:30-11:30 AM and 1:004:30 PM. Staff provides supportive services for persons living with HIV including assistance in accessing medical care. HIV testing is available to all interested persons. In addition, CUPHD offers PrEP to reduce new HIV infections. PrEP is a medication, taken daily, to greatly reduce the chance of HIV infection for a person that does not have HIV.
For more information, visit the CUatZero Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CUatZERO or call 217-531-5365.
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