Cook County Health Recognizes Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day

National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day is Wednesday, April 10. The day is dedicated to educating the public about the impact of HIV and AIDS on youth.

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 21 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. were of youth aged 13 to 24.

Cook County Health is one of the largest providers of care in the country to people living with HIV. The health system offers a variety of services, including confidential counseling, testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as treatment options for patients with HIV and AIDS.

One of the most significant advancements in recent years in the prevention of HIV/AIDS is the HIV-preventive medication called PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. Last year it became available to adolescents between the ages of 13 and 24.

Cook County Health has PrEP clinics at four of its facilities: Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, Austin Health Center, Dr. Jorge Prieto Health Center and Provident Hospital. Visit cookcountyhhs.org for more information.

Cook County Health is a proud partner of Getting to Zero Illinois, a statewide initiative to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 in collaboration with community-based organizations, health care providers, government agencies, people living with HIV and other committed community members. This can be achieved by getting 20 percent more people living with HIV virally suppressed and 20 percent more people vulnerable on PreP.