HIV in the South

Challenges, Opportunities & Community Voices

VOICES FROM THE SOUTH

Over 200 Southerners were asked to contribute to a survey about HIV in the South. A large contingent of these respondents were people living with HIV. The feedback provided proved pivotal in understanding how our communities view HIV in the South.

 WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO HIV PREVENTION, CARE, AND TREATMENT IN THE SOUTH?

 “We must get our governor to understand that expanding Medicaid is essential, especially for desert communities where there is no department of health, hospitals, or any form of health care assistance. We have to put money where there are no healthcare facilities.”

“Many communities in the South are heavily stigmatized by the very word HIV. Normalizing HIV through campaigns and advertisements is key to reducing this stigma and increasing access to care.”

WHAT POLICIES DO YOU THINK WOULD IMPROVE HIV PREVENTION AND CARE IN THE SOUTH?

“Decriminalizing HIV and ensuring equitable access to prevention, care, housing, and economic resources are essential. HIV is a health issue, not a criminal one.”

We must increase the awareness of organizations, hospitals, and public health clinics providing HIV care, expansion on Medicaid increasing health coverage reducing the medical expenses falling on Ryan White funds, and normalizing HIV (leads to de-stigmatization) advertisements throughout metropolitan areas.