Shining a spotlight on HIV

During the month of March, staff and physicians at the Anne Vogel Clinic are shining a spotlight on HIV. The clinic provides harm reduction and primary care for individuals recovering from opiod addiction. A crucial part of harm reduction is increasing awareness about the prevention of communicable diseases, such as HIV.

Clinicians and physicians at the clinic have committed to having a conversation about HIV with every client they see. As a result, after just two weeks they are finding that more clients are going for an HIV test and the number of clean needle exchanges has increased significantly.

The HIV awareness campaign is part of a year-long education program that sees clinicians and physicians focus on a different topic each month. In addition to the face to face conversations, the education program includes a number of props, such as a disco ball and twister game in the clinic lobby to help reinforce the messages in an engaging manner.

Anne Vogel Clinic staff encourages everyone to know their HIV status.