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Duval County’s HIV transmission rates have remained stubbornly high, despite health officials’ myriad public education attempts. The Florida Department of Health-sponsored Stop AIDS pilot project is tapping the business community to promote HIV/AIDS information and resources. In the eight months since Stop AIDS’ debut, 53 businesses have joined on, said Tabitha Robinson, minority AIDS coordinator for the state health department’s northeast region. Participating merchants comprise beauty shops, seafood eateries, convenience stores, nightclubs, hotels, and mortuaries. “Because of the stigma and how nobody wants to talk about [HIV], I was kind of surprised by the number of businesses that wanted to help us,” she said. “I really didn’t get any no’s - few to none.”
Robinson, who recalls the days of going door-to-door to spread the word on HIV/AIDS in the county’s most-affected neighborhoods, noted the information and resources are tailored to each merchant. “Stop AIDS: It’s everyone’s business” is printed on diner paper cups and napkins, barber smocks, and restaurant, retail and bar receipts; some businesses are distributing discreetly packaged free condoms.
JR Grill customer Kevin Davis thinks it is about time HIV prevention messages are being shared via the business community. “One person can hurt a hundred unbeknownst to them ... You see it in health departments, but it needs to be in places like this,” he said.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
