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Taking action to reduce HIV/AIDs in Virginia

Posted at 11:10 AM, Mar 10, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-10 11:10:15-04

The most recent surveillance data collected by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) indicates that 6,600 women are living with HIV disease in Virginia.

Forty-eight percent of those cases progressed to an AIDS diagnosis by the end of last year. This data shines a light on the impact that HIV has upon women, according to VDH officials.

“HIV and AIDS are taking a toll on the lives of women and their families,” said Interim State Health Commissioner Marissa J. Levine, MD, MPH. “The health of women is indicative of the health of our Commonwealth.One way to improve the lives of women, and therefore families, is to empower women with knowledge and support for healthy living.”

In collaboration with a coalition of public and private sector partners, VDH has launched a new statewide public health campaign. The campaign, called Virginia Greater Than AIDS (Virginia>AIDS), reaches out to women through personal stories and conversations.

Click here for more on the Virginia Greater Than AIDS campaign.