The "I am a Work of ART" Campaign is Designed to Encourage and Support Those with HIV

This week on, On Point with Juandolyn Stokes, guest host, Felicia Moore, welcomed, Dr. Timothy Harrison, Principal Deputy Director and HIV Team Lead, OIDP and Ashley Nicole Cason, a long-term HIV survivor. They joined us to discuss the "I am a Work of ART" (WOA) campaign, which was launched by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP).
Th purpose of the campaign is "to get people diagnosed with HIV back into care," said Dr. Harrison. He added some people may have slacked off on their care during COVID, now is time to get back into treatment. Also, stigma, transportation, education and lack of insurance are other barriers to seeking HIV care.
Black Americans who live in the south have lower viral suppression rates compared to people with HIV. In 2019, Black Americans accounted for 41% of all new HIV diagnosis and Black women were 55% of those cases.
The good news is people with HIV who take antiretroviral therapy (ART) or HIV medication as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live healthy lives without transmitting HIV to their sexual partners.