Did you know that in 2017, youth ages 13-24 accounted for 21.5% of the reported HIV diagnosis in Maryland? (Center for HIV Surveillance, Epidemiology and Evaluation, 2018).
The good news is that minors In Maryland (anyone under the age of 18 years who is not married or the parent of a child) now have the same capacity as an adult to consent to treatment to protect themselves from HIV through the use of PrEP. Let’s join hands to protect our youths today!
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Senate Bill 251 was passed and enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution – Chapter 728 on 5/25/2019. The law will go into effect on October 1, 2019.
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PrEP is a daily pill that reduces a person’s risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%. Among people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by more than 70%.
One of the objectives of FCFA is to promote HIV Prevention by providing access to free HIV testing, counseling, HIV prevention treatments e.g. PrEP to individuals at risk, and also provide linkage to HIV medical care for individuals who are positive.
