Nonprofits in Springfield gather for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was created in 1999 to acknowledge how HIV disproportionately impacts Black Americans. According to the CDC, " In 2021, Black/African American people accounted for 40% (14,528) of all new HIV diagnoses."

"In the last 10 or 15 years, we don't hear a lot about HIV and AIDS and so I think that there's a lot of misinformation and misconceptions about HIV and treatment of HIV and getting tested and all of it," said Jonna Cooley, Executive Director of the Phoenix Center. "I think this is an opportunity for us to share accurate information and get people educated and get people tested."

The Phoenix Center and the Fifth Street Renaissance worked together to host two events to acknowledge National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. These both included free food, HIV testing, resources about HIV, and harm reduction materials. Cooley says this is a bigger issue in Springfield then people think it is.

Organizers say by going out in the community, people will be more likely to get tested because its easily accessible. The group can also connect those who test positive with health services and ensure they have the ability to get to future appointments.

"It's nice to get the education out there to folks so that communities can get all the education and the free testing presented to them, so that they can know what their status is," said Teresa Pickrel, the Community Outreach Administrator for fifth street renaissance.

Fifth Street Renaissance has a mobile health unit that they bring to different events and locations. This allows them to offer HIV, STI, and Hepatitis C testing in private in convenient locations. Fifth Street Renaissance also offers HIV testing at their central location. The Phoenix Center offers HIV testing at their location as well and ships tests within the state of Illinois.

For more information on Fifth Street Renaissance, visit their website. For more information on the Phoenix Center, visit their website.