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Barney’s Pharmacy in Augusta, Ga.,
aims to change the fact that an estimated one in five people with HIV does not
know that they have it. One of 24 participating community pharmacies, Barney’s
will take part in a national pilot program to expand rapid HIV testing and
public education through a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Ashlee Riggs, a pharmacy resident at
Barney’s, explains that many individuals who should be screened will not go to
an infectious disease clinic, but may feel less threatened being tested at a
community pharmacy, as the setting reduces the stigma surrounding the test. The
test at Barney’s is available over the counter, but is free and offers other
advantages, such as support, counseling, and linkage to care if a person tests
positive. People do not get these benefits if they are testing themselves alone
at home, declares Riggs.
Ben Culpepper, another pharmacy
resident at Barney’s, notes that not only is the testing an additional service,
but it is also an outreach. “Yes, we do want the regular patients that are
coming through because the CDC wants everyone to know their status,” he said.
“But we also want to reach out to the community and let the community know that
Barney’s pharmacy is a place that they can come to that is safe, confidential,
free of judgment, and potentially get the screening if they need it.” The
pharmacists at Barney’s will educate the public about the availability of
effective medications to manage HIV. The pharmacists have been trained to
administer the tests and will help the patients’ physicians in managing care
and will remain with patients throughout the whole process, emphasizing to HIV
patients that adherence to taking the medications is crucial. The program will
likely start in November and become fully operational in December.
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!
