SOUTH SIDE HELP CENTER LAUNCHES NEW HIV PREVENTION CAMPAIGN TO REACH BLACK WOMEN ACROSS CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS

SOUTH SIDE HELP CENTER LAUNCHES NEW HIV PREVENTION CAMPAIGN TO REACH BLACK WOMEN ACROSS CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS

Campaign promotes free HIV testing and PrEP to help reduce disproportionate HIV rates


The  South Side Help Center launched a new public education campaign to increase awareness of HIV prevention among Black women in Chicago and throughout Illinois. The campaign encourages women to take advantage of free HIV screenings and learn about PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a medication that can reduce the risk of contracting HIV through sexual contact by about 99% when taken as prescribed.


The multimedia campaign, funded in part by the Illinois Department of Public Health, features African American women and delivers culturally relevant messages through billboards in South Side neighborhoods, print and digital newspaper advertising, e-blast promotions, community outreach events, and other public awareness activities.


“HIV remains a significant public health issue for Black women, yet it is also one of the most preventable," said Vanessa Smith, Executive Director of South Side Help Center. "Through education, testing, and access to prevention tools such as PrEP, we can empower women to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”


Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the body's immune system, making it more difficult to fight infections if left untreated. While medical advances have made HIV highly treatable, significant racial disparities continue to exist.


According to the surveillance reports by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health for more than a decade(2015-2025), Black women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of HIV. Although they represent approximately 14% of Illinois' female population, they account for the majority of new HIV diagnoses among women statewide. Approximately 75% of these infections are linked to heterosexual contact, while about 15% occur among women who inject drugs.


The disparity is significant even in Chicago, where Black women make up approximately 37% of the city's female population but account for more than 70% of HIV diagnoses among women. Black women also represent nearly half of HIV-related deaths despite the availability of effective treatment.


South Side Help Center encourages women to know their HIV status, learn whether PrEP is right for them, and seek regular medical care. Free HIV testing and prevention services are available through the organization.

 


About South Side Help Center


For more than 35 years, South Side Help Center has served Chicago's South Side by helping individuals and families embrace healthy lifestyles and reach their fullest potential. Originally established to address HIV/AIDS education and youth violence prevention, the organization has expanded its programs to include comprehensive health education, behavioral health services, youth development, family support, advocacy, and community outreach.


In 2015, under the leadership of Executive Director Vanessa Smith, daughter of founder Betty Smith, the organization became an affiliate of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world's largest nonprofit HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, significantly expanding its capacity to provide prevention, testing, treatment, and support services.

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