LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – About one in eight people are living with HIV in the United States and are unaware that they have it, according to HIV.org.
December is recognized as HIV and AIDS Awareness Month, highlighting services that Project CHAMPS provides year-round.
“HIV awareness is still important till this day; it’s a chronic condition that can be managed with meds. However, to be able to effectively manage the disease and get the medication, you need to understand the illness,” said Samantha Mendoza, communications director for South Plains Community Action Association.
That understanding and access to care is what Project CHAMPS is built around. For people living with HIV, having someone help guide them through care, medication and next steps can make a real difference, especially in rural communities where support isn’t always close by.
“There’s so many misconceptions, one of them being a death sentence back in the day. The ’80s and ’90s there was a huge HIV epidemic, where lots of people were suffering from the illness and even dying, but nowadays advancements of modern medicine made where it’s a manageable illness,” Mendoza said.
Even with those medical advances, fear and stigma still exist. For some people, that can make getting tested or asking for help overwhelming.
Project CHAMPS is part of the South Plains Community Action Association. They provide medical and social support for Texans who are unable to pay for their care.
“It’s not just individuals in the LGBTQ+ community; it can be anybody, a substance abuse user. People who are using drugs, needles they can get HIV as well not just from sexually active,” Mendoza said.
HIV can affect anyone, and no one should feel alone navigating it. Education, prevention, and testing are key to protecting yourself and others.
“Making sure you’re taking precautions. Things like safe sex, avoiding things like needles, drug use. Very important not just for college kids but anyone in the area,” Mendoza said.
HIV and STI testing are available at doctor’s offices, community health centers, sexual health clinics, and the local health department.
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