Philadelphia Launches Online Tool to Link People with HIV Prevention and Treatment Services
The city's efforts to combat HIV are taking a digital turn as it has launched an online resource finder aimed at connecting individuals with various sexual health services, including HIV testing, prevention medication, and treatment options. The tool, dubbed the Philly Keep on Loving HIV Resource Finder, was made possible by a $4 million federal grant for HIV prevention and treatment.
According to Anna Thomas-Ferraioli, advisor of the city's efforts to end the HIV epidemic, the online finder was created in response to a lack of comprehensive information available to the public. "When we were doing a survey of the environment to see what was out there, we didn't find one single source of good information that had really everything that was on offer for HIV prevention and care in our communities," she said.
The resource finder provides users with access to providers offering HIV prevention and treatment services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), as well as resources addressing food and housing insecurity. For individuals experiencing homelessness or those without internet access, the online tool is also available through community groups.
The creation of this digital resource was funded by a federal grant, which also supports local organizations providing HIV services to the city. While the initiative has been met with positive feedback from public health officials, there are signs that efforts may be paying off. According to recent data, HIV diagnoses in Philadelphia have decreased over the past few years, with a 25% decline since 2017.
Despite progress, significant disparities persist among certain populations, such as Black and Hispanic individuals, men who have sex with men, and injection drug users. These groups continue to bear the largest burden of the disease.
The city's efforts to combat HIV are taking a digital turn as it has launched an online resource finder aimed at connecting individuals with various sexual health services, including HIV testing, prevention medication, and treatment options. The tool, dubbed the Philly Keep on Loving HIV Resource Finder, was made possible by a $4 million federal grant for HIV prevention and treatment.
According to Anna Thomas-Ferraioli, advisor of the city's efforts to end the HIV epidemic, the online finder was created in response to a lack of comprehensive information available to the public. "When we were doing a survey of the environment to see what was out there, we didn't find one single source of good information that had really everything that was on offer for HIV prevention and care in our communities," she said.
The resource finder provides users with access to providers offering HIV prevention and treatment services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), as well as resources addressing food and housing insecurity. For individuals experiencing homelessness or those without internet access, the online tool is also available through community groups.
The creation of this digital resource was funded by a federal grant, which also supports local organizations providing HIV services to the city. While the initiative has been met with positive feedback from public health officials, there are signs that efforts may be paying off. According to recent data, HIV diagnoses in Philadelphia have decreased over the past few years, with a 25% decline since 2017.
Despite progress, significant disparities persist among certain populations, such as Black and Hispanic individuals, men who have sex with men, and injection drug users. These groups continue to bear the largest burden of the disease.
I think this is super cool that Philly created an online tool for people to find HIV prevention & treatment services... it's like a safety net for those who need help 
. But at the same time, it makes me sad that some ppl have to search for resources online because they don't have internet access 
. Like, shouldn't everyone be able to get info on health services no matter what? 
Anyway, it's a start and I hope more cities do this kinda thing too! 
I'm so stoked that Philly is taking a major step in tackling HIV through this online tool! It's crazy how something as simple as a resource finder can make such a huge difference for people who need it most 
. The fact that there was just one source of info on HIV services before now makes me realize how invisible and stigmatized the issue is, even in places with good healthcare 
. I love that this tool addresses not just medical services but also housing and food insecurity – we gotta prioritize people's basic needs when it comes to health 
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. Those disparities are still way too real, especially for marginalized communities like Black and Hispanic individuals, men who have sex with men, and injection drug users – they deserve better than to bear the brunt of this disease 
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The fact that it was made possible by a $4 million federal grant shows just how serious they are about tackling this issue 
.
) and that's awesome! But we gotta acknowledge that there are still some significant disparities - like with Black and Hispanic individuals, men who have sex with men, and injection drug users... it's not fair that they're bearing the biggest burden of this disease 
. Anyways, I'm all for this initiative and I hope it keeps paying off! 
Just saw this news about Philly launching an online tool for HIV prevention & treatment services 
And yeah, it's cool that the city is using a $4 million grant for it, but what about everyone who can't access the internet or don't know where to find these services? 
Still, I guess it's a step in the right direction... and the fact that HIV diagnoses have decreased by 25% since 2017 is actually kinda hopeful 
And that they're also making it accessible for people without internet access through community groups? That's just awesome! 
It's crazy to think they were doing research and found out there wasn't even ONE reliable source of info out there for ppl struggling with this. I mean, can u imagine trying to navigate all that on ur own? 
And the best part is it's available online AND through community groups for ppl without internet access. I'm literally beaming with pride for Philly and their commitment to helping people live healthier lives 
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. It means people without internet access can still get the help they need, which is just basic human decency at this point 
. Alright, alright - I know we're not perfect yet, but let's keep striving for better 
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. glad they made it accessible through community groups 4 those w/o internet access 
.
And let's not forget the funding behind it - $4 million from the federal government. That's serious cash, and I'm sure it'll make a huge difference in people's lives.
? And have we considered the accessibility issues with these new tools? What if some areas of Philly don't have reliable internet access or are still reeling from COVID-19 
so philly's new online tool is literally a lifesaver for people living w/ hiv, it's like one stop shop 4 all ur hiv needs & more 
can't wait 2 see more cities follow suit 
, but we gotta keep pushing to close those gaps between populations that are most affected 
. I mean, we all know that access to healthcare is super important, especially for marginalized communities 
. What if people don't actually use it? 
I'm not saying it's all bad news 
, but we need to keep pushing for more systemic changes, you know? 
. But honestly, we still gotta tackle those disparities - Black & Hispanic individuals, men who have sex with men, and injection drug users are still bearing the brunt of the disease 
. This initiative is all about #EqualityForAll, and I'm so here for it 
. But let's be real, we still got work to do