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World AIDS Day

  • November 24, 2025

Observed every year on December 1st, World AIDS Day brings communities together across the globe to honor the more than 32 million lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses and to support the 39 million people currently living with HIV.¹ The day serves as both a remembrance and a call to action to expand access to testing, preventive health care, and supportive services for those living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS.

Social determinants of health, such as income, housing, nutritional access, and health care access, continue to shape who is most affected by HIV and the quality of care people receive.² At Whittier Street Health Center, we work to address these barriers through our Infectious Disease and Special Populations Program, which offers free HIV testing, counseling, and linkage to treatment on-site at our clinic and out in the community via mobile outreach. Our efforts are centered on extending these services to underserved populations, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to receive life-saving treatment and to lead a healthy, empowered life.

Whittier Street Health Center is proud to stand in solidarity with our community in the fight against HIV. Join us for our annual World AIDS Day event on December 1st from 12-2 PM to honor those affected by HIV, celebrate progress in prevention and treatment, and learn about Whittier’s ongoing work to expand access to testing, education, and compassionate care.

All are welcome to join us for lunch and community resources! Free sexual health screenings and HIV testing will be provided on a walk-in basis during the event and are also available Monday through Friday at our health center. To learn more, please call our HIV Testing and Counseling Hotline at (617) 308-0060.

References

  1. (2024, November 28). Global HIV & AIDS statistics — Fact sheet. Retrieved from https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About the social determinants of health. U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://ahead.hiv.gov/ehe/sdoh/
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A note about Whittier and COVID-19

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in our area, we ask all clients and patients to call ahead before coming to any of our sites. We are working to take care of most clients/patients via phone/video encounter so we can meet your ongoing healthcare needs. This is for your safety and so we can provide the highest quality of care to you while following CDC guidance for COVID-19. Please call 617-427-1000 for any questions or concerns.

Whittier will provide COVID-19 testing from 10 am to 4 pm on Monday to Friday. Following CDC guidance, we recommend testing if you have a fever AND one of the following three symptoms: cough OR shortness of breath OR sore throat. Please bring your picture identification and your insurance card (if you have insurance).