Palmetto Community Care Purchases Old T&T Building

[North Charleston, SC]:  Palmetto Community Care today announced the official purchase of the old T&T Sportsman Building on Rivers Avenue.  This milestone is a major move for PCC on its mission as the Lowcountry’s sole AIDS Service Organization ensuring no one living with HIV or AIDS goes without medical care, everyday resources, and emotional support.… Continue reading Palmetto Community Care Purchases Old T&T Building

Charleston Mayor Signs Declaration to End HIV Epidemic

Palmetto Community Care was one of several local partners that joined Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg for the signing of the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities to end the HIV epidemic and achieve the 90-90-90 HIV treatment targets by 2030 in Charleston and its surrounding areas. Tecklenburg was joined by representatives from the International Association of… Continue reading Charleston Mayor Signs Declaration to End HIV Epidemic

STI Rates at All-Time High

The Centers for Disease Control recently changed its recommendation that people get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) once every three months versus its previous recommendation of testing once every six months. Right now, STI rates in the United States are at an all-time high, so it’s more important than ever to get tested! Did you… Continue reading STI Rates at All-Time High

Talk to Teens about Sex to Stop Spread of HIV

According to the government’s Office of Adolescent Health, adolescents who have sex early are less likely to use protection, putting them at a greater risk of pregnancy and STDs. Consider these statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from a survey of high school students in 2013: 47% had ever had sexual intercourse. 34% had sexual intercourse… Continue reading Talk to Teens about Sex to Stop Spread of HIV

13 Myths About HIV Busted

Myths abound about HIV. We work to bust every myth that exists in our work to eliminate HIV. 1. MYTH: You can get HIV just by being around HIV-positive individuals in your daily life. REALITY: False. HIV is transmitted when infected material (blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk) comes in direct contact with a mucous… Continue reading 13 Myths About HIV Busted

Is PrEP Right for You?

A significant medical advancement in the fight against HIV/AIDS is PrEP – short for pre-exposure prophylaxis. People at risk of getting HIV can take a daily pill to greatly reduce their risk of infection. The pills – under the brand name Truvada or Descovy  – contain two medicines used in combination with other medicines to treat… Continue reading Is PrEP Right for You?

What You Need to Know About a HIV Test

We provide free HIV testing at Palmetto Community Care, administering more than 100 tests each month. Our services are critical in the fight against HIV. Too many people (about 1 in 5) are living with HIV and don’t know it. That means they may very likely be unknowingly spreading the disease. About 50,000 people are… Continue reading What You Need to Know About a HIV Test

3 Reasons People Avoid a HIV Test

Why do people avoid HIV tests? People seek out the annual flu shot, women get annual mammograms, many more get cholesterol screenings and have their blood sugar checked. People think nothing of these routine health checks. So why not apply the same logic to getting a HIV test? The Centers for Disease Control estimates that… Continue reading 3 Reasons People Avoid a HIV Test

Could You Be At Risk for HIV?

Many people may not think they need an HIV test because they don’t believe they are at risk. They may think HIV affects only gay men or drug users, but the truth is anyone who is sexually active is at risk for HIV. HIV transmission occurs via bodily fluids, including blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal… Continue reading Could You Be At Risk for HIV?

Why We Focus on High-Risk Populations

If current trends continue, about 1 in 2 black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States will be diagnosed with HIV during their lifetime. That sobering statistic, from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, illustrates risk factors are not equal. This statistic applies to South Carolina and Charleston… Continue reading Why We Focus on High-Risk Populations