The turning of the seasons typically inspires people to live healthier, exercise more, and take better care of themselves. Every summer, more people start hitting the gym, picking up vitamins, or finally scheduling that overdue doctor’s appointment.
For Hope & Help of Central Florida, the start of summer is also the perfect time to remind people to add “test for HIV” to their health to-do list. “We can improve quality of life for people if we make HIV testing as common as regular dental cleanings,” explains Hope & Help’s CEO, Thresa Giles.
Hope & Help is continuing with its mission to dispel myths and lessen the stigma that still surrounds HIV status and HIV testing. Through education about the virus, outreach, and various initiatives, they are helping to make it easier for people to get tested for HIV.
Routine Testing And Early Detection Are Key To Reducing Hiv Transmission
The state of Florida ranks among the top five states in the nation for new HIV diagnoses, making the work that Hope & Help does even more critical. Still, even with information available, many people still believe that HIV tests are only necessary in “high-risk of HIV transmission” communities or for those who experience symptoms. Hope & Help has pushed back against this pervasive thinking, letting communities know that anyone sexually active should get regular STI and HIV screening.
“Our message is simple: don’t wait for symptoms,” says Giles. HIV and other STIs can go undetected, without symptoms, for years. Early detection can not only protect one’s own health but also the health of their partners.
From A Small Support Group To A Regional Lifeline
Hope & Help has been at the forefront of HIV prevention and education for decades. Beginning in 1988, Hope & Help started as a small support group for a friend facing AIDS at a time when misinformation and fear for those living with HIV were at an all-time high.
The organization offered something desperately needed at the time: the promise of a safe space where people could find understanding, compassion, and practical information to improve their health. With the rise of better HIV research, antiretroviral therapy treatments, and long-acting HIV treatments such as injectable PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) lenacapavir, Hope & Help has been able to consistently pivot and meet the moment with its wide range of services.
Today, Hope & Help is one of Central Florida’s most comprehensive HIV/STI service organizations, operating a full medical clinic and offering free HIV testing, oral PrEP, and other sexually transmitted infection prevention resources, as well as primary care services and a patient-centered medical home model that delivers coordinated, whole-person care. Its providers address both immediate and long-term health needs, integrating prevention, treatment, and chronic disease management in one setting. The organization also offers outreach, advanced HIV prevention tools and education, case management, and support groups.
Hope & Help serves thousands across Central Florida, providing care and bilingual support services, participating in community events, and ensuring everyone has access to free testing for HIV and other infectious diseases.
A Clear Pathway To Better Health: Making Hiv Testing And Healthcare Accessible And Stigma-Free
The leadership at Hope & Help is aware that to get people to add HIV testing to their summer to-do list, they have to make it accessible. That’s why Hope & Help works to remove many of the practical and emotional barriers that keep people from getting tested for HIV. At its primary location and through community outreach at events, the Hope & Help team offers free rapid HIV testing, as well as tests for syphilis and hepatitis C.
Walk-in HIV testing is also available at Hope & Help, making it easy to check “get tested for HIV” off of one’s checklist over their lunch break. Today’s effective HIV tests are quick and straightforward, and individuals can get their test results and discuss next steps without losing an entire day at the clinic. This accessibility and convenience lead to better follow-through for people who may have been on the fence about getting tested.
What sets Hope & Help apart as an HIV/AIDS-focused non-profit is the sheer amount of support, education, and guidance they provide to people, as well as their testing resources. By normalizing the conversation around HIV and HIV testing, the organization is helping every day to end the stigma that persists.
Maintain Whole-Person Health, Not Just Sexual Health
Including HIV testing on one’s summer checklist can be a powerful step in self-care, but Hope & Help emphasizes the importance of whole-person health that goes beyond a mere seasonal uptick in interest in healthier living. In addition to testing services, Hope & Help offers a range of services designed to treat people holistically, including primary care, access to vaccines and free condoms, case management, mental health services, and support groups.
“Health outcomes are shaped by so much more than just medical appointments,” says Giles. “We are battling barriers to whole-person care, such as poverty, unstable housing, unemployment, and mental health challenges. These can all contribute to higher rates of HIV and a lack of engagement in self-care.”
In a state with high levels of HIV transmission, Hope & Help is making a difference in its community, investing in the health of people who may have barriers to care standing in their way.
With the summer upon us, it is a perfect time to consider the importance of regular HIV testing. For Hope & Help and the thousands of Floridians they serve, it is an important first step toward a better quality of life.
For additional information about Hope & Help of Central Florida, visit the organization’s website at hopeandhelp.org and follow their “HIV, Real Talk, Real Solutions” podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
