MACON, Ga. — December 1 is World AIDS Day.
It’s dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and to remember those who have passed away from the disease.
Macon-Bibb County's Department of Public Health held an event at the Memorial Park Recreation Center to educate folks about prevention and testing resources.
13WMAZ’s Jessica Cha went to check it out.
"What we're doing is offering free HIV testing as well as other health resources today,” says Amber Singleton, the communicable disease health educator for the Georgia Department of Public Health.
In 2020, the CDC said Georgia had the fourth highest number of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. -- almost 2,000 reported cases. Over half come from men who have sexual conduct with other men.
“Those are the highest level of HIV cases right now. However, anyone who has sex has the possibility of contracting HIV,” she explains.
Singleton says that's why they're offering free testing, because not everyone has access, or knows that it's available.
"Yesterday, I tested 11 people in just an hour and a half,” she says.
The HIV test that they're using is called the INSTI Rapid Test, and it’s done in three simple steps. First, you prick your finger, then you mix it with the given solution, and then it will be poured into a device which will reveal if you're HIV positive or not in just one minute.
If one dot appears from the solution, it means you are HIV negative, and if two dots appear, it means you are HIV positive.
Singleton says that it’s 99.9% accurate.
She says testing used to take up to a week to get results, so technology has improved. Singleton says despite stereotypes, it is totally possible to live a long, normal life with HIV.
"We have medication where you can take one pill a day, and if you continue to take that one pill a day as needed, it'll make you– what we call 'Undetectable = Untransmittable,' which means you are unable to transmit it to anyone,” Singleton explains.
So, using PEP– post-exposure prophylaxis– this medication can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood until the virus cannot be detected by a test. This is called undetectable.
People who have undetectable HIV for six months will not give HIV to their partner(s) during sex. This is called untransmittable.
Mobbie Stanley says this isn't the first time he's tested to check for HIV.
"I think everyone should have HIV test because if you're having unprotected sex, you should have,” he says.
Stanley says it's so easy.
"It wasn't painful at all. You just get the test done. It was that simple.”
Singleton says if you do test positive for HIV, the Public Health Department can connect you to resources and help.
She also says places like the Hope Center can help provide medication.