Panama City, Fla.— The Florida Department of Health in Bay County (DOH-Bay) is observing World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day is an annual observance held on December 1. This year’s theme is “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact”. The theme reminds us all we can achieve together when we focus on impact by using data to deliver high quality, people center HIV prevention and treatment services to those most in need, tackling stigma and discrimination, and empowering communities.

“DOH-Bay takes pride in the care we offer to the persons we serve through our HIV program”, said Sandon S. Speedling, MHS, CPM, CPH, Administrator/Health Officer for DOH-Bay. “We also work to make sure that all persons feel welcome.”

Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 DOH-Bay will participate in a World AIDS Day event along with our partners BASIC of Northwest Florida and PanCare Health. The event will be held in the parking lot of Grocery Outlet in Callaway located at 225 S. Tyndall Parkway. The hours are 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. BASIC will administer free rapid HIV testing, DOH-Bay will offer free Hep A vaccinations, and PanCare Health will provide free flu shots. There will be free food, music and much more with many other partner organizations will be participating.

More than 500 people in Bay County are living with HIV. DOH-Bay offers free, confidential, and rapid HIV testing every Tuesday. DOH-Bay offers free, confidential, and rapid HIV testing every Tuesday. Test results are available in just 20 minutes! Hours are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. DOH-Bay provides immediate access to treatment for the newly diagnosed as well as retaining HIV-positive persons in the care system, with the goal of getting HIV-positive persons to an undetectable viral load. This reduces the chance of transmission to others. With early diagnosis, individuals can begin appropriate treatment and care resulting in better health outcomes.

DOH-Bay also offers Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication at no cost. PrEP is a once-daily pill that can reduce HIV-negative individuals’ risk of acquiring HIV. PrEP should be used in conjunction with other prevention methods, like condoms, to reduce the risk of transmission. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking PrEP daily reduces the risk of contracting HIV by more than 90 percent. Patients can obtain up to a 90-day supply of PrEP through their local CHD STD and Family Planning Clinic.

We have made great strides in prevention, early identification and treatment, however there is still much work to be done. In addition to our other services, we also work to increase community outreach and awareness about HIV, high-risk behaviors and the importance of knowing one’s status. We also work together with our partners to ensure persons have access to care. 

DOH-Bay offers high-quality HIV testing services, but you can also locate HIV counseling, testing and referral sites by visiting KnowYourHIVStatus.com or texting your zip code to 477493. For more information, call the Florida AIDS Hotline at 1-800-FLA-AIDS or 1-800-352-2437; en Español, 1-800-545-SIDA; in Creole, 1-800-AIDS-101. You can also call DOH-Bay at 850-872-4455, visit Bay.FloridaHealth.gov or follow us on Twitter @FLHealthEmerald.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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