(Camp Hill, PA, Monday, November 29, 2021) – World AIDS Day is Wednesday, December 1, a day for people to unite in the fight against HIV. AIDSNET, Family Health Council of Central PA, North Central District Aids Coalition, Northwest Alliance at Clarion University, and United Way of Wyoming Valley  have partnered to educate Pennsylvanians about HIV and urge them to get tested through their Take Control HIV campaign. The campaign offers a combination of services, including resources and referrals, to empower everyone to take control of their HIV status because anyone is at risk.

Patricia Fonzi, president and CEO, Family Health Council of Central PA, discusses the campaign.

SOUNDBITE #1:

TAKE CONTROL H-I-V IS AN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN THAT TARGETS COMMUNITIES ACROSS FIVE REGIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA. IT’S DESIGNED TO SHIFT PERCEPTION, MOTIVATE PREVENTIVE ACTION AND ENCOURAGE TREATMENT OF HIV.  ON THIS WORLD AIDS DAY AND FORWARD, WE WANT TO ERADICATE MISCONCEPTIONS AND STIGMAS AROUND H-I-V AND ENCOURAGE THOSE LIVING WITH THE VIRUS TO KEEP UP WITH MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND LIVE IN THE MOMENT, UNAPOLGETICALLY.

SOUNDBITE #2.:

H-I-V IS A CHRONIC CONDITION JUST LIKE OTHER ILLNESSES SUCH AS DIABETES.  AS PART OF WORLD AIDS DAY, WE ARE URGING PENNSYLVANIANS TO GET INFORMED AND GET TESTED. RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP THOSE LIVING WITH H-I-V THROUGHOUT THE STATE. H-I-V ISN’T THE DEATH SENTENCE IT ONCE WAS, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE POSITIVE AND WILL LIVE LONG, HEALTHY, HAPPY LIVES. WE WANT TO EMPOWER EVERYONE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR H-I-V STATUS – NO MATTER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

For more information and to find a testing site near you, visit www.takecontrolhiv.com.