Atlanta Works to Combat HIV Rates 

‍Atlanta’s HIV Epidemic: A Crisis in the South

Atlanta leads in new HIV infections, outranked only by Miami and Memphis, according to the AJC.  HIV-negative people who take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis are nearly 100% protected from contracting HIV. Yet accessibility and availability of prescriptions have made it not widely available. If everyone who needed access was granted it, new infections in Atlanta could fall as drastically as 90%. 

Only 25% of United States residents who would benefit from PrEP - pre-exposure prophylaxis - prescriptions have access to it. As of 2022, Black gay men and Black straight women are the two most at-risk groups of individuals in Georgia. Surpassing white gay men, who historically have been one the most at-risk groups. 

Understanding the Barriers to HIV Prevention

These new statistics can be attributed to a multitude of reasons with the main two being that without insurance it can be near impossible to receive proper preventative care. The stigma among Black Georgians has stunted conversations around HIV and stigmatized the diagnosis. However, there is hope that these statistics could change for the better.

 A new twice-yearly injection, called Lenacapavir, created by Gilead, has led to major breakthroughs. Studies from two medical trials have shown it is nearly 100% successful in preventing infection. 

Dr. Colleen Kelley, co-director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research stated that “‘miracle drugs only work if people can access them.’” Although the success has been extremely positive, if not available to the masses, especially those predisposed, then the true success of the drug is delayed. Another PrEP drug, Apretude created by Viiv Healthcare, showed the same positive results and has been FDA-approved since 2021. However, it is not widely used due to access being limited. 

Although the demand and desire to be on the drug were there, people were stopped by the constraints of insurance coverage. Many clinics struggled to prescribe, inject it, and insurance coverage remains difficult to this day. The same stakes are on the line with Lenacapavir, if insurance and clinics won’t allow for mass access, the miracles fall short. 

The extreme costs of the drugs isn’t the biggest constraint. According to Leisha McKinley-Beach, a national HIV consultant and CEO of the Black Public Health Academy, the biggest constraint is awareness, knowledge, and connections within the communities that need it most. 

What makes this twice-yearly injection so remarkable is that it helps combat not only contracting HIV but also helps those dealing with pill fatigue. Previously the only medication was a daily pill, and this led to many people to stop taking it or forgetting due to the constant process of having to do so, sometimes for decades. 

The Role of Stigma in Preventing Access to HIV Prevention

If the major setback is access, the stigma within the Black community is what’s stopping people from demanding access and seeing a true decline in new HIV infections. The fear of being fired from jobs, losing housing, and other negative repercussions stop discourse around living with HIV or taking preventative measures. 

Don’t lose hope though! MISTR is an online PrEP pharmacy that has a program dedicated to mailing free PrEP to patients without insurance. This allows people to gain access to the life-saving drug without having to deal with the constraints that make an in-person prescription inaccessible. 

Breaking the Stigma, Changing the Future

For Atlanta to truly combat the HIV epidemic, education and open dialogue are crucial. Conversations around health and wellness help dismantle harmful stigmas and empower communities to seek the care they deserve. Community engagement and culturally competent outreach and care play a key role in combating HIV Rates. Community leaders, medical professionals, and public health advocates must work together to spread accurate information about prevention methods like PrEP and the groundbreaking twice-yearly Lenacapavir injection.

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Together, we can break the stigma and change the future. Join us and our partner Avita on National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 6, 2025, for a powerful day of awareness, support, and action as we raise our voices for women and girls in the fight against HIV. Enjoy free health services, networking opportunities, and an engaging panel of experts tackling critical issues and driving change. Register at sisterlove.org/events

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Work Cited

Scaturro, Michael. “Atlanta Struggles to Reduce HIV Rates.” Ajc, 21 Jan. 2025, www.ajc.com/news/health-news/atlanta-struggles-to-reduce-hiv-rates/DTWQNNZELFG2JMJHZHOFEYPHIM.

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