With one of the highest rates of HIV nationwide, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on Wednesday their intention to expand HIV prevention services in Athens and other underserved communities.
During the state’s three-day long House of Representatives’ Joint Appropriations Committee meeting, DPH Commissioner Kathleen Toomey said DPH plans to address insufficient PrEP services in rural areas. PrEP, or Pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication designed to minimize one’s risk of contracting or spreading HIV from sexual transmission or injecting drugs.
Following Governor Brian Kemp’s recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2024, DPH plans to spend around $900,000 on HIV prevention in Athens, Gainesville, Rome, and Waycross, GA.