HIV Prevention and Education
What are HIV prevention and education programs?
HIV prevention and education programs help reduce the number of new HIV infections by using outreach, counseling, awareness, and support services. Some prevention programs are for people living with HIV. These programs try to prevent transmission of the HIV virus to others, to protect against re-infection, and to encourage healthy living habits. Other programs are for at-risk non-HIV groups, or open to anyone.
Am I eligible?
Anyone interested in learning ways to prevent the spread of HIV can get free prevention and education services. Some HIV prevention and education programs are for specific groups such as women and their families, high-risk men, people living with HIV/AIDS, at-risk teens, and GLBT youth and adults. An HIV counselor will help you find a program that meets your needs.
What services are available?
HIV prevention and education programs include outreach, individual and group counseling, peer discussions and workshops, awareness events, hotlines and web sites, needle exchange programs, and health promotion and wellness activities. If you have had a high-risk exposure to HIV, you can get PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) treatment to try to prevent infection.
How much does it cost?
HIV prevention and education programs are free.
How do I apply?
For information about prevention and education programs in Worcester, call:
What is PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)?
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a treatment for people who have had a high risk exposure to HIV. PEP reduces the rate of infection in people exposed to HIV, but is not 100% effective. PEP treatment involves taking several HIV medications several times a day for a month or more. If you have had a recent high risk exposure to HIV, you should speak to a counselor at a hospital or health center that has been approved to administer HIV PEP. In Worcester, you can get HIV PEP treatment at the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, 508-852-1805, and at UMass Memorial Health Care, 508-334-6164.
For more information, see What is PEP? on MassResources.org.
Can I learn about HIV online?
Many government and non-profit HIV web sites offer fact sheets, articles, and other online information about HIV. For a list of web sites, see HIV Education Web Sites on MassResources.org.
More information
More information about HIV Prevention and Education is on our statewide web site, MassResources.org. When you click on the link below, you will go to MassResources.org. Click "Back" on your browser to return to WorcesterResources.org.
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