Meck County leads NC in people living with HIV. A Charlotte health expert explains why
HIV infections remain a concern in the Charlotte area and beyond.
Mecklenburg County currently leads the state in the number of people diagnosed with the virus, according to the most recent 2021 North Carolina HIV Surveillance Report.
About 6,972 residents in the county are living with the virus. On the heels of that reality, Mecklenburg County was identified as a priority jurisdiction in the National Strategy to End the HIV Epidemic in the United States.
“Disparities in HIV rates and outcomes are driven by underlying disparities some in our community experience due to lack of social and economic opportunity/resources, lack of access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, and discrimination in the form of racism and stigma.” Mecklenburg County spokesperson Suzette Nedrich wrote in an email to The Charlotte Observer.
With the “higher disease burden in our community” in mind, Nedrich said in comparison to “others across the state,” the overall risk for some subgroups, specifically LGBTQ+ people of color, is higher.
“Mecklenburg is a rapidly growing and diverse community,” Nedrich stated, noting that as Charlotte grows “and the epidemic continues, and HIV care and therapies improve, the absolute number of people living with HIV continues to grow.”
In partnership with Atrium Health and Novant Health, Mecklenburg County Public Health will offer free screenings on National HIV Testing Day on Tuesday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Through HIV Testing, Mecklenburg County’s “Getting to Zero Plan” intends to achieve “continuous reduction in new cases of HIV in Mecklenburg County,” Nedrich said.
As MCPH continues to make efforts toward ending the HIV epidemic through “outreach and testing,” National HIV Testing Day is a way to emphasize testing as “a pathway to engaging residents in care to keep them healthy, regardless of their test results,” Nedrich said.
While “HIV is still an issue in our community,” Mecklenburg officials are taking full “advantage of every opportunity to encourage testing and highlight prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and condom usage,” Nedrich stated.
What’s contributing to Mecklenburg County’s high HIV infections?
“Research suggests that a lot of the disparities that we see in HIV have to do with some of those social determinants of health,” Zarwell said. “Things like access to health care, access to insurance, racism and discrimination and education.”
Zarwell told the Observer that while one of the “main drivers” is the stigma around HIV and sexual health in general, another contributor is discrimination and structural “forces like racism at play.”
“I think we have to do a better job to work together and identify what are those social determinants and what are the structural barriers that drive health inequities. And that’s how we can inform our public health programming,” Zarwell said
What to know about HIV in the Charlotte area?
“Testing is a cornerstone for both preventing new infections and preventing onward transmission.” Meagan Zarwell, an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at UNC Charlotte, said.
Therefore, you must get tested and have a negative result before taking PrEP.
“So if folks are interested in getting PrEP, you have to have a test first. Alternatively, if you are living with HIV and you get tested, that is the gateway to get into care,” Zarwell said.
Additionally, the “Let’s Get Checked Initiative” allows Mecklenburg County residents to create an account online to register for testing. Those interested can use the promo code G2ZMeck to request a free at-home HIV test kit.
MCPH funds several providers to offer PrEP to uninsured/underinsured residents. So, if you don’t have health insurance, you could apply for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Ready, Set, PrEP Program or call (704) 432-8378 to reach MCPH.
The program doesn’t cover clinical visits or labs. However, you can apply to Gilead’s Advancing Access Patient Assistance Program to see if you may be eligible to receive your Gilead medication for free.
Where to get tested for HIV in Charlotte
While the health department is partnering with several local organizations providing free testing, Zarwell said, “There’s confidential PrEP referrals for folks who are interested in that as well as incentives and a raffle drawing. It should be really fun.”
Here are the locations where people can get free testing on June 27:
