Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Leon County is teaming up with Godby High School Lady Cougars basketball and community health care partners to mark World AIDS Day (December 1).

The Fourth Annual HIV/AIDS Awareness Game will pit the Godby young women’s junior varsity and varsity basketball teams against the Columbia High School Tigers.

The JV and varsity games start at 3:00 and 4:30 p.m., respectively, on December 1 in the Godby gymnasium (1717 W. Tharpe Street).

Health educators will distribute goodie bags to the first 100 attendees, offer no-cost health screenings and share HIV prevention tips.

Health care partners include Big Bend Cares, MAACA, Bond Community Health Care Center and Neighborhood Medical Center.

“Last year, we know that 1,342 people were living with HIV in Leon County,” DOH-Leon Health Officer Claudia Blackburn said. “It’s important that everyone, regardless of their background, learn the importance of getting tested, how to protect themselves against the virus and where to seek treatment should they be HIV-positive.”

DOH-Leon and community health care partners are particularly interested in educating young men and women ages 13-24 about the disease. The Department reports that almost 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses across the state in 2016 (17%) were among young men and women in this age group.

Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.

Every year since, World AIDS Day has united people around the globe in the fight against HIV. The day includes shows of support for people living with HIV and remembrances of those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

It is also a time to raise awareness to the latest developments in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, encourage testing and educate on prevention and treatment.

For more information, visit www.aids.gov or www.worldaidsday.org .

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About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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