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The Office of Community Advocacy, a division of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Miami-Dade County hosted the annual “Ending the HIV Epidemic” health fair on Feb. 15 in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center in Downtown Miami.
The collaborative effort counted with more than 20 vendors participating, including the Miami branch of the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI).
Attendees had the opportunity to receive flu shots, cancer screenings, glucose and blood pressure checks, free condoms, and HIV-related information. The fair provided a range of services to the public, particularly those at risk of HIV, with a goal of increasing awareness and early detection of the virus.
With Florida leading the nation in the number of HIV-related infections, the event aimed to provide accessible healthcare services and information to the public to promote prevention and early detection of HIV with information about free and regular testing. As of 2021, there were 27,782 persons living with an HIV diagnosis in Miami-Dade County, making it a public health issue.
In 2017, Resolution 622-17 declared the third week in February as “Getting 2 Zero Miami-Dade County Awareness Week” with the goal to get to zero new HIV/AIDS cases, zero AIDS related deaths, zero stigma, and zero discrimination. A year later, Miami-Dade County launched branded condoms, which are available free of charge through partners in the campaign, the Florida Department of Health.
On May 4, 2021, the county commission adopted Resolution 453-21, renaming the “Getting to Zero in Miami-Dade County Awareness Week” to “Ending the HIV Epidemic in Miami-Dade County Awareness Week,” on the third week in February of each year. On Dec. 1, 2021, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a resolution declaring every Dec. 1, “World Aids Day.”
The event was a success, with a significant turnout and positive feedback from attendees and vendors. The health fair offered a unique opportunity for the community to access critical healthcare services and information in a centralized location. The presence of NAMI Miami was particularly valuable, as mental health can often be overlooked in conversations around HIV and overall well-being.
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