CHICAGO (AP) — The Illinois Department of Public Health is urging women and girls to become educated about and get tested for HIV.
In a press release Thursday, the department says more than 7,000 women and adolescent girls in Illinois are living with HIV.
Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck is director of the state public health department. He says women represent a larger share of HIV infections today than they did earlier in the epidemic. Women of color, particularly black women and girls, are disproportionately affected.
Sunday is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Illinois residents may receive information on where to find free HIV testing locations by texting "IL" and a ZIP Code to 36363.
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