We are now over forty years into the HIV epidemic and fighting as a community to improve inequities in HIV outcomes. At the beginning of the epidemic, many diagnosed faced a hopeless journey to their demise due to a lack of effective therapeutics available, apathy from government officials to recognize their plight, and discrimination as well as stigma from loved ones, communities, and public health officials. We have overcome many obstacles since that time, in the discovery of highly effective anti-retroviral therapy. HIV medicine taken consistently is now able to extend life expectancy and stop transmission. Importantly, we have the tools now to end the epidemic with other prevention tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP).

In light of these breakthrough scientific achievements, the United States is moving forward with ambitious plans to end the epidemic by 2030. This will require paying attention to the same fault lines that interrupted and devastated communities since the beginning. Attention must be paid to communities more greatly impacted and facing inequities due to structural racism, stigma, poverty, and disparate access to healthcare. In Southern communities, like the state of Alabama, several community organizations have pushed forward to improve outcomes within their own community by sharing data and moving in a coordinated effort to identify gaps in effective prevention of HIV. PrOTECT AL is one of many steps to end inequities within our state!

Thank you for participating in this journey – PrOTECT AL Team