World AIDS Day 2021 and the Ongoing Prevalence of the HIV Epidemic
Every year since 1988, the first of December marks World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day is an international day dedicated to raising awareness about the HIV epidemic and the ongoing spread of HIV infection. It also is a day where we mourn those who have died of the disease. After all, we need to remind both people and the governments that HIV is still a health crisis.
As a provider of HIV/AIDS services across Southern California, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) embraces the cause of raising awareness. Our service providers deliver HIV treatment strategies that extend quality of life for those infected with the virus while also raising awareness. Thus, prevention programs address attitudes and behaviors surrounding AIDS, helping people learn how to protect themselves.
A Presidential Proclamation on World AIDS Day 2021
Marking Worlds AIDS Day 2021, the White House issued a Presidential Proclamation. In the proclamation, President Biden states, “While we have made remarkable progress in the 40 years since the first-known reported case of AIDS, this disease remains a serious public health challenge — and we join the international community to honor and remember the more than 36 million people, including 700,000 Americans, who have tragically died from AIDS-related illness since the start of the epidemic. We also renew our commitment to stand with the nearly 38 million people (about twice the population of New York state) living with HIV around the world as we pursue our shared goal of ending the HIV epidemic.”
Moreover, the proclamation points out the difficulties of dealing with the HIV epidemic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exhausting healthcare and frontline workers, the dual challenges led to limiting past HIV/AIDS service options. As a top provider of such services in Southern California, TTC prioritizes maintaining access and service offerings in a crisis. In particular, we try to make sure that underserved populations are supported like communities of color, adolescent girls and young women, and the LGBTQI+ community.
HIV/AIDS Service Offerings at Tarzana Treatment Centers
Indeed, the theme of World AIDS Day 2021 incorporates the core of TTC’s ongoing mission. As expressed on the HIV.gov website, “The theme for the 2021 observance is ‘Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice’” Hence, providing care and service options that are equitable and fair needs to be a national priority.
Thus, on World AIDS Day 2021, HIV/AIDS medical services at TTC include HIV testing, STD screening, Pap Smear, comprehensive medical care, and much more. Our clinical staff addresses issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. Such issues include attitudes and behaviors which negatively impact the recovery process for teens and adults. Thus, TTC’s case management includes physical, psychosocial, and environmental assessments. Our goal is to facilitate access to appropriate health care outlets. We support services in Los Angeles County, the San Fernando Valley, and Antelope Valley.
Additionally, our community outreach programs assist families and individuals. They offer enrollment in health coverage programs such as Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and Healthy Kids. For example, the TTC Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program includes HIV/AIDS awareness and STD prevention strategies as well. Thus, TTC incorporates HIV/AIDS awareness into our ongoing outreach strategies. To learn more, please contact TTC today for support.