Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018
The Charlotte area’s rate of HIV infection is more than double the national average. Guest host Alex Olgin looks at what's being done to change that.
The Southern U.S. has become the epicenter of HIV in America, with more than half of the country’s new HIV cases (as of 2016).
Mecklenburg County’s rate of new HIV infections has been declining in recent years, but is still more than double the national average, and is the second-highest rate in North Carolina.
County leaders have demanded action on that front, and this year the health department launched a pilot program with hundreds of at-risk people. Still, activists wonder more could have been done sooner, and question if the new effort will help the African-American and low-income communities that are still hardest hit by HIV/AIDS.
The county’s public health director and those working on the frontlines of HIV/AIDS join us.
GUEST HOST
Alex Olgin, WFAE health care reporter (@alexolgin)
GUESTS
Dr. Alma "Gibbie" Harris, Mecklenburg County public health director
Chelsea Gulden, vice-president of operations, RAIN
Phill Wilson, founder and CEO, Black AIDS Institute (@iamphillwilson)