A New HIV Prevention Program Starting November 1, 2009
Community Health Interventions Inc., is excited about its new venture with the National Office of Women’s Health in implementing the “Straight Talk Program” for at risk teens ages 12-22 and their female kinship.  This is a five-session course with each session lasting two and a half hours long.  Highly trained and capable staff facilitates each session.  If you are looking for something fun, exciting, and educational for your female youth group, THIS IS IT!!  Please contact Elazzoa McArthur at (910) 488-6118 ext. 27 for more information.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.  It is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system making it hard for the body to fight off infection.   HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.  AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection.  Having AIDS means that the virus has weakened the immune system to the point where the body has a difficult time fighting infection. 

In 2006, an estimated 56,300 individuals were infected with HIV.  Today, more people than ever before are living with HIV/AIDS. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that about 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV or AIDS. About one quarter of these people do not know that they are infected: not knowing puts them and others at risk. 

You can get HIV by having unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, and oral), sharing works (equipment to shoot and prepare drugs) or a blood transfusion prior to 1985.  HIV can be transmitted to babies born to women with HIV during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding.