Each year on December 1, people around the globe observe World AIDS Day. The day provides an opportunity to show solidarity for those affected by HIV and memorialize those who have lost their lives to the disease.

The U.S. Government (USG) theme for World AIDS Day 2022— Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV— emphasizes accountability and action, affirming the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to ending HIV, both in the United States and around the globe, through an approach that centers on communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. This year, we observe World AIDS Day in the context of two other infectious disease threats—COVID-19 and monkeypox—which have heavily impacted many of those same communities. These epidemics have further highlighted that our public health response to HIV will require us to address health disparities holistically.

Ending HIV in Florida requires the collective effort of all Floridians and knowing your HIV status is the first step. Your HIV status determines the prevention or care options that are right for you. Florida is a national leader in HIV testing, and there are many ways to get tested. Visit KnowYourHIVStatus.com to order a free at-home test kit or to learn about testing providers in your area. Be sure to call providers in advance to learn about their COVID-19 safety procedures.

It is crucial that people diagnosed with HIV begin treatment as soon as possible. Immediate treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) typically leads to long, healthy lives for people with HIV. It's also a method of HIV prevention. ART reduces the amount of HIV in the body, which makes it harder to transmit to others.

There are more tools available than ever to prevent HIV. A health care provider can help you determine appropriate next steps, which might include taking PrEP and using condoms to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. Prevention may also take the form of regular testing.

Visit these Florida Department of Health World AIDS Day events for free HIV and STD testing, giveaways, and information on PrEP.

St. Lucie County Fire District, Station 3
Thursday, December 1, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
480 SW Ravenswood Lane
Port St. Lucie 

St. Lucie County Fire District, Station 15
Thursday, December 1, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
721 Avenue D
Fort Pierce 

United Way of Indian River County
Thursday, December 1, 2022, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
1836 14^th Ave.
Vero Beach 

JR’s In N Out
Friday, December 2, 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
1201 N 25^th St.
Fort Pierce 

Florida Department of Health in Martin County
Wednesday, December 14, 2022, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
3441 SE Willoughby Blvd.
Stuart 

We can both prevent and treat HIV. For more information, call 1-800-FLA-AIDS, or 1-800-352-2437; en Espanol, 1-800-545-SIDA; in Creole, 1-800-AIDS-101. To learn where to get tested, visit KnowYourHIVStatus.com.