Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31. Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. It is the night of the dead, the night where pumpkins go out into the street and people and their costumed pets try to imitate the appearance of the restless spirits of Halloween traditions. They also wear sexy costumes and can even dress like a condom, or like any horrible character who exemplifies syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.
Going out, partying and having fun is completely acceptable and necessary. However, we need to know that cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV are reaching new highs and High Impacto is helping the community at large to keep those growing statistics out of our community. In this spookiest time of the year many of us dress up and go out for a few nights of partying, booze and sex. So, if you’re planning on spicing things up this Halloween, wrap it up, take PrEP and don’t forget to keep your viral load undetectable because People living with HIV cannot transmit the virus if they have an “undetectable” viral load. “U=U” which stands for “undetectable equals untransmittable.”
The most effective way to prevent the spread of HIV and all Sexual Transmission Infections is abstinence. But we all know that this isn’t practical for some people, so let’s use another way to prevent STIs: condoms, PrEP, and treatment. Luckily for everyone, many organizations are providing HIV prevention services such as High Impacto. During this celebration and throughout the year High Impacto provides education on HIV and AIDS. We offer services such as PrEP, the medication that prevents HIV. The first step is getting a free HIV test. Also, if you already have a positive diagnosis for HIV and need treatment, come to us because our ARTAS program accompanies patients with a positive diagnosis to access their doctor’s appointment and helps them understand and have better adherence to their treatment plan. In addition, High Impacto provides other comprehensive support services to members of minority communities affected by the condition, including immigrants, regardless of their immigration status and ability to pay. Ask us how you qualify for our free health insurance!