Metro Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has launched a new online HIV Resource Finder designed to help residents and service providers quickly locate treatment, prevention and support services across the city.
The searchable tool is now live on the department’s sexual health website, Philly Keep On Loving, and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in both English and Spanish at phillykeeponloving.com.
Health officials said the new resource aims to remove barriers to care by making information about HIV services easier to access in one centralized location.
“One crucial step on our path to ending the HIV epidemic is making resources available and easy to find,” said Dr. Kathleen Brady, Director, Division of HIV Health, PDPH.
The HIV Resource Finder allows users to search for a range of services administered through the health department, including HIV testing, treatment, prevention programs and support services such as legal aid, food assistance and housing resources.
Service providers also say the platform could improve outcomes for people living with or at risk for HIV.
“Working with Philadelphians impacted by HIV, every moment counts,” said Mike Nees, a medical case manager with Penn Community Practice. “The ability to quickly pinpoint a pertinent resource can be the deciding factor in whether or not a life-changing intervention is implemented.”
“The PKOL HIV Resource Finder helps clear the fog that too often surrounds the service landscape.”
HIV care and support services in Philadelphia are available regardless of immigration status or ability to pay, health officials said. In addition to the online resource finder, residents can call the Health Information Helpline at 215-985-2437, available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
HIV testing is available through primary care providers, city-run testing locations and at-home testing kits, all of which can be found through the Philly Keep On Loving website.
Prevention resources are also available, including pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a highly effective medication that can prevent HIV before exposure. Both pill and injectable forms of PrEP are accessible through Philadelphia’s PrEP Program.
People who believe they may have been exposed to HIV within the past 72 hours can also access post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, a 28-day medication regimen that can prevent infection if started promptly. PEP must be started within 72 hours of exposure for it to work. Timing is key for PEP — the sooner you take it, the better, health officials said. PEP is available through the city’s PEP Hotline at 833-933-2815.
Additional HIV prevention and care resources are available on the Philadelphia Department of Public Health website.