A Jacksonville LGBT advocacy group launched a $1-million campaign to combat the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in Northeast Florida youth Nov. 30.
The Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network (JASYMN) announced AIDSFreeJax, a three-year campaign which looks to match the $500,000 donation by the Delores Barr Weaver Fund, to get more young people HIV education and testing.
Young people age 18 to 24 make up more than a fourth of all new infections, most of who don’t even know they’re infected, according to JASMYN director Cindy Watson.
“For those young people who know that they are living with HIV, only six percent have engaged in medical treatment that has led to viral suppression,” Watson said at a press conference announcing the campaign.
AIDSFreeJax will also provide treatmentto those who are infected, a group which has grown at an alarming rate in the county and the state. New cases of HIV in Duval County jumped from 156 in the first half of 2014 to 200 in the same period this year, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Florida as a whole reported 5,077 new HIV infections and nearly 2,000 new AIDS cases as of September of this year.
“It’s absolutely an upward trend,” Watson said. “It’s people of color and MSM (men who have sex with men), while others are bottoming out.”
JASMYN is a non-profit youth organization that provides safe space, support, leadership, development, HIV prevention and recreational opportunities to youth 13-23. They currently work with about 50 HIV-positive youth.
With more money JASMYNcan treat at least another 80 HIV-positive youth and hire more case managers to expand the program, Watson said.
