MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Shelby County Ryan White Program, which provides free primary medical and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Shelby and surrounding counties, has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about the program in the Memphis area and to promote treatment.
The “Know Now. Live Longer.” campaign is part of the Ryan White Minority AIDS Initiative in response to the disproportionate impact of HIV/AID on the area’s African-American population. Of the 6,673 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Memphis area, 78.7 percent are African-American.
“The goal of the campaign is twofold,” said Lisa Krull, Ryan White Program contracts coordinator. “First, we want to educate the community about the services offered by the Ryan White Program. Second, we want to raise awareness that treatment for HIV/AIDS is available and makes it possible for those living with the disease to live long, healthy, productive lives.”
The campaign will include billboards, public service announcements, posters, bus ads, postcards, informational wallet cards, social and online media, and fliers to help get the word out about the program, a federally funded initiative that provides free primary medical and support services to more than 500,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. The services are intended to reduce the use of more costly inpatient care and increase access to care for underserved populations. In addition, the campaign promotes an HIV care hotline [(877) HIV-KNOW).
All of the campaign materials, as well as the website (www.hivmemphis.org), feature Shelby County residents who are living with HIV/AIDS. Among them is Nicole, a 37-year-old Memphis native who has lived with HIV since she was sexually assaulted 14 years ago.
“The Ryan White Program has helped me, a young, self-employed businesswoman, with my HIV medication costs. It also offered me HIV/AIDS education classes and nutritious food. It is a wonderful resource,” Nicole said. (Last names are not being used in the campaign materials.)
Other Memphis residents who have agreed to lend their stories to the campaign are:
• Alfred, 24, volunteers with a digital magazine for Memphis youth. Alfred has lived with HIV for two years.
• Craig, 41, a vocalist and former model. Craig has been HIV-positive for more than six years and is a member of the Memphis Area Ryan White Planning Council, which conducts activities to determine service needs for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Felecia, 33, a Memphis native and mother of one. Twenty years ago, Felecia had a seizure while working in her yard; she discovered she was HIV-positive. Today, Felecia has a son who is HIV-negative.
• Frederick, 38, HIV educator. Frederick has lived with HIV for 19 years. He credits the Ryan White Program with saving his life.
• Joe, 40, a former teacher. Joe tested positive for HIV in 1996. Since then, he has become a non-medical case manager, helping others living with HIV find the necessary treatment to live long lives.
Services provided by the Ryan White Program include:
• Outpatient medical care
• AIDS pharmaceutical assistance
• Medical case management
• Mental health services
• Medical nutrition therapy
• Medical transportation appointments
• Early intervention services
• Dental health care
• Food bank
• Emergency financial assistance
• Substance abuse outpatient
• Psychosocial support
• Health education workshops
• HIV Care Hotline
Memphis-area residents are eligible for Ryan White Program services if they reside in one of the following counties in Arkansas, Mississippi or Tennessee: Crittenden, DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, Tunica, Shelby, Fayette and Tipton.
In addition, eligible persons must be underinsured or lack health insurance, must have proof they are HIV-positive, and must have an income at or below the 300 percent of federal poverty level.
Learn more about the Ryan White Program by visiting www.hivmemphis.org or by calling (877) HIV-KNOW [(877) 448-5669]. This project is funded as a result of grant awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and Shelby County Government.
