Alabama Department of Public Health pushes to end HIV and stigma on Zero HIV Stigma Day

MINTGOMERY, AL - On July 21, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) observes Zero HIV Stigma Day, a global grassroots campaign that has engaged over a million voices across the world to confront and end the stigma surrounding HIV.

"With your help, we are working to raise awareness, educate our communities, and build a culture of compassion where no one is judged or isolated because of their HIV status,"

Chelsey Flowers of the ADPH Office of HIV Prevention and Care said. "Together, we can eliminate stigma once and for all. On this day, we commit to fostering inclusive environments where everyone, regardless of status, is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people living with HIV often internalize the stigma they experience and begin to develop a negative self-image. They may fear they will be discriminated against or judged negatively if their HIV status is revealed.HIV-internalized stigma can lead to feelings of shame, fear of disclosure, isolation and despair. These feelings can keep people from getting tested and treated for HIV.

Zero HIV Stigma Day aligns with the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative, which focuses on four key pillars: Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, and Respond. Ending the epidemic is not possible without ending stigma. The goal of EHE is to reduce new HIV infections by 90 percent by 2030. That is why campaigns such as Zero HIV Stigma Day are critical.

According to the CDC, studies have demonstrated that people living with HIV with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to sexual partners. This science, or treatment as prevention, is one of the most effective biomedical tools for preventing HIV transmission.

Let's Stop HIV Together is part of the EHE initiative, and it aims to empower communities, partners, and healthcare providers to reduce stigma and promote prevention, testing, and treatment among all people in the U.S.

For more information about HIV and free testing, visit https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/hiv/testing.html; and for more information about Zero HIV Stigma Day, visit https://www.zerohivstigmaday.com/