HRC Launches HIV-Prevention Program for HBCU Students – Human Rights Campaign

The initiative hopes to reach some of the most vulnerable communities including college students by educating them on preventative care as well as on the reality of HIV in 2022. Currently, there are over 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States, and 1 out of every 5 new cases of HIV come from people between the ages of 13-24. This further impacts Black and Latinx people because of systemic and racial barriers in accessible health and deadly stigma that plagues communities across the country. We see this play out especially in the Southern United States which is home to 52% of new HIV cases. Which is why we launched this program to help young people who are too often left vulnerable to the HIV epidemic.

Fortunately, a preventative drug, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), has been found to be over 99% effective at preventing HIV during sex. PrEP is most effective if it is taken as prescribed and daily. Through this PrEP Ambassador program, we will be working to ensure that PrEP is offered on or near HBCU campuses. Learn more about PrEP

While PrEP is important in the fight to end the HIV epidemic, fighting the stigma of HIV is just as important and just as life saving. “We must be cognizant of the emotional and psychological impact that HIV and AIDS-related stigma can have on people, especially for students striving to obtain a college degree. Many Black people, including Black LGBTQ+ people, already experience heightened rates of mental health issues. This leads to an overwhelming number of students who do not seek the proper testing and treatment,” said Leslie Hall, the director of the HBCU program.