“Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic” World AIDS Day Event December 1
Waukegan, Ill. — The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, as a member of the Lake County Stands Against Stigma Coalition, is collaborating with the Art Impact Project to host a free virtual event to commemorate World AIDS Day on Tuesday, December 1. The "Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact" event will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom.
The free event will feature two presenters, Dr. Alvaro Encinas, Regional Medical Director at the Lake County Health Department, and Jason Hart, a community member living with HIV. This will be followed by a question and answer session. Attendees will learn about ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic with an emphasis on HIV testing, increasing access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications, and highlighting the importance of viral suppression.
All are encouraged to attend to learn about HIV, remember those who have lost their lives to the disease, and wear a red ribbon to show your support and to stand against HIV stigma and discrimination.
To RSVP, visit www.bit.ly/worldaidsday-2020. For more information, please call the Health Department’s Need2Know program at (847) 377-8450.
About Lake County Stands Against Stigma
The Lake County Stands Against Stigma Coalition is a collaboration of community members including the Health Department, Catholic Charities of Lake County, Alexian Brothers Housing and Health Alliance’s The Harbor, the office of State Representative Rita Mayfield, the office of Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim, Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Chi Eta Phi, Nu Phi Nursing Sorority, Inc, and community volunteers. The Coalition members work together for capacity building, advocacy, and the elimination of HIV-related stigma.
HIV Services Available in Lake County
The Lake County Health Department’s Need2Know program, located at 2400 Belvidere Road in Waukegan, offers many services to prevent new HIV infections in Lake County. The program assists clients with free and confidential HIV testing, medical benefits navigation, anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication, adherence counseling, harm reduction services, and linkage to other health services such as HIV and general medical care, behavioral health services, and mental health counseling. For additional information or to make an appointment, call (847) 377-8450 or visit www.lakecountyil.gov/need2know.
About Art Impact Project
Art Impact Project is a non-profit organization that designs and delivers art programming to help participants of all ages (with a heavy concentration on adolescents) experiencing mental and behavioral wellness concerns of all levels. Art Impact Project serves many in need of healthier coping skills, emotional awareness, and expression through our partnership with schools, after school programs, mental and behavioral health facilities, recovery sites and an inmate program at the Lake County Jail. To learn more, visit www.artimpactproject.org.
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