CARE
There are more than 20 different infections that can be transmitted during sex. That is why it is crucial that anyone who is having sex to be tested regularly. APLA Health is here to make sure that we are able to meet the needs of our community and stop the spread of not only HIV, but all STDs.
Getting tested regularly will not prevent any STDs, but it will help prevent medical complications associated with STDs. Waiting too long to get tested may result in irreversible damage to your health.
Fortunately, APLA Health provides free or low-cost STD testing and treatment in the communities where people live and around their schedule.
We don’t need to know where you’ve been, we just need to see you.
SUPPORT
Food insecurity and HIV/AIDS are intertwined and thousands in Los Angeles County are hanging by a thread, compounded by COVID-19’s shutdowns and layoffs. Those living with HIV are especially vulnerable.
Begun as a $35-a-week food voucher program in 1986, APLA Health’s Vance North Necessities of Life Program (NOLP) has since become the nation’s largest network of food pantries for people with HIV/AIDS, currently operating out of 13 locations throughout Los Angeles County. And since the beginning of the COVID-19 shut downs in Los Angeles County, we have seen the demand increase, with 29% more people coming to our food banks.
The demand is as great as it’s ever been but the good news is APLA Health will meet it with your help.
EDUCATION
HIV has usually been associated with white gay men. However, this fallacy has almost never been true. Among people diagnosed between June 1981 and August 1986, 25% were Black and 14% were Latinx.
The inability to access trusted, culturally competent healthcare led to higher and higher rates of new infections.
APLA Health saw these startling statistics and changed the way that we provided support and education. We started HIV prevention programs that specifically targeted young Black and Latinx men, giving them the tools and education to stop the spread of HIV in their community.
Our Healthy Him program is one such program. Specifically designed to provide a holistic approach to HIV prevention, our Healthy Him staff are here to help young men of color from 18-29 years old and provide a safe space that addresses their needs.