Health Council of West Central FL Awarded Funding by Florida DOH to Collect Crucial HIV Data from Hillsborough County Community Members

TAMPA, Fla. - April 21, 2020 - PRLog -- With infectious diseases like Coronavirus and HIV being top of mind in our communities, the Health Council of West Central Florida is launching an online survey on April 22nd. The survey is aimed at gaining input from community members to represent a diverse population in every area of the county regardless of HIV status. Ending the HIV Epidemic, an initiative supported by the CDC, selected Hillsborough County as an HIV hot spot in need of an innovative plan to address the HIV epidemic through the social determinants of health. Hillsborough County is one of 48 counties with the highest rates of HIV diagnoses nationally.

"Barriers to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of HIV are the same as those being discussed daily in coronavirus coverage. Limited testing (especially in vulnerable communities), housing insecurity, access to healthcare, racial and ethnic disparities and transportation are common in every area of public health," said Teresa A. Kelly, Executive Director of West Central Florida.

"The CDC provided guidance for the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the form of four pillars: diagnosis, treatment, prevention and response. These pillars are consistent to the major issues within the coronavirus pandemic - as inequities in the social determinants of health challenge these viruses and our communities."

The survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HGM5Q6K) will be posted online (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HGM5Q6K) and distributed through May 8th to assess community attitudes around diagnosis, treatment and prevention of HIV in Hillsborough County. Results from this survey will determine the strategies and how they are implemented in the Ending the HIV Epidemic Plan for Hillsborough County.

Click here (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HGM5Q6K) to access the survey.

About the Health Council of West Central Florida
The Health Council of West Central Florida (http://www.hcwcfl.org/), Inc. (HCWCF) serves residents in Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk counties. HCWCF is committed to assessing the health status and resources of area residents and assisting communities with solutions to meet emerging needs.