What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that attacks a person’s immune system and can develop into AIDs (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
The most common form of transmission is through sexual contact, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex.
How You Can Prevent HIV
In an interview with Mateo-Anderson and Guidry, who work specifically in helping test and prevent HIV, emphasized that anyone who is beginning sexual activity should get tested for HIV as a baseline. Anyone who is sexually active should get regular testing every 6-12 months to ensure that their status remained the same.
Treatment can also be a form of prevention. With current medications, individuals living with HIV can reach a status known as “undetectable”, meaning that their viral load of HIV is so low that it can not be detectable, and this means that they are also untransmittable and unable to give HIV to anyone else.
You can also request free condoms and other forms of protection by going here (https://bit.ly/sehd-condoms) or to a DPH clinic.
Mateo-Anderson and Guidry also expressed hope about new initiatives coming to the Statesboro area, with plans to open Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) clinics in Bulloch County. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a medication intended to prevent HIV.
What Georgia Southern is Doing:
Ingrid Mateo-Anderson and Elizabeth Guidry are with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), and along with the support of student interns and volunteers, stationed themselves in the Russell Union Thursday, November 30th to help provide STD prevention materials such as male condoms, dental dams, and free HIV testing to students in honor of World AIDs Day. World AIDs Day is meant to be a day for solidarity and rememberance of those affected by HIV that is celebrated annually on December 1st.
Students can also access free condoms on campus by going to the Health Services Pharmacy during normal business hours.
Local Resources:
Individuals who want to get tested can visit their nearest Department of Public Health (DPH) Office
– Statesboro location: 1 W Altman St
– Order Online: (https://bit.ly/sehd-sti-test-kits).
References
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html
https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids/
