In just 20 minutes you can be tested for HIV and get your results. A quick test for a disease that's growing, especially in the south.
"We have seen a huge increase in HIV/AIDS this year alone with new intakes coming on. We use to have anywhere from maybe three to four new clients a month. Now we're enrolling anywhere from 10 to 15 new clients within a month," said Chanel Scott-Dixon, the HIV/AIDS program manager for the Dougherty County Health Department.
Health officials blame lack of education in the community and schools, as well as the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
"When I hear about the stigma of HIV/AIDS a lot of people are afraid to know their status or shun away from people that are HIV infected, because they're not educated on HIV/AIDS. I think if people become more educated on the disease the stigma will decrease and discrimination for those with HIV/AIDS will decrease as well," Scott-Dixon.
Carlos Franco, an infectious disease doctor for Phoebe Putney Hospital says what concerns him is their newly infected patients. "Here what you see is mostly women, mostly African-American. I will tell you, I don't know the exact number but in this clinic let's say we have 70 patients with HIV that we follow on a long term basis. I would say at least 60, 65 women and most of them African-American," said Franco.
Another concern Franco says is the increasing number of patients who have an advanced stage of the HIV infection from the start.
Now health officials are doing what they can to inform the public.
"What we're trying to do as an organization is get education out so we can educate the community about HIV/AIDS and hopefully encourage them to get tested," said Scott-Dixon.
Doctors say the best way to be educated is to get tested and know your status.
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