January 10, 2022

FREE Testing - National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2022

NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY – Extended Hours February 7 

(Spartanburg, S.C. – January 10, 2022) – National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an annual testing and treatment community mobilization initiative designed to increase the awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment among Blacks in the United States. Since 1999, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day events have encouraged Blacks to get educated, get tested, get treated, and get involved. 

In recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Piedmont Care will have extended HIV testing hours on Monday, February 7, 2022. HIV testing will be available 8:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. HIV testing is free and confidential. Due to COVID-19 masks and appointments are required. To set up an appointment, please contact us at (864) 582-7773. Piedmont Care is located in the Pine and Main Building at 101 North Pine Street, Suite 200 in Downtown Spartanburg. 

The Challenge: 

  • African Americans are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS in South Carolina. 
  • They comprise approximately 68% of the total persons living with HIV/AIDS, while representing only 27% of the state's population. 
  • In the U.S. Blacks represent only 12% of the U.S. population, but they accounted for 43% of new HIV diagnoses and 42% of people living with HIV disease in 2018. 
  • The rate of new HIV infections in Blacks is 8 times that of whites based on population size. 
  • HIV was the 8th leading cause of death for Black women ages 35-44 in 2017 and the 6leading cause of death for Black men ages 25-34.>span class="Apple-converted-space"> 

The Good News: 

  • New HIV diagnoses among African American women declined 43% from 2008 to 2018. 
    (data sources: SC Epi Profile 2020, SC DHEC, CDC, and the Kaiser Family Foundation) 

Piedmont Care is the nonprofit organization providing HIV and AIDS care, prevention, and advocacy in our community. We are the only organization in our area 100% dedicated to fighting HIV and AIDS. Since 1994 Piedmont Care has served more than 1700 people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. In 2004 Piedmont Care initiated a community HIV prevention program. Since that time, more than 1600 people have learned their HIV status and received prevention counseling through our free HIV testing program and thousands of our neighbors have accessed free condoms and HIV prevention education. 

To learn more about HIV/AIDS, Piedmont Care, and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and www.piedmontcare.org.