Will County Health Department Recognizes World Aids Day on December 1st

JOLIET, Ill. – The Will County Health Department and Community Health Center are reminding residents that Monday, December 1, 2025 is World AIDS day. Established in 1988, World AIDS day is used to raise awareness about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and honor the lives affected by the global pandemic that has claimed more than 32 million lives over the past 40 years.

“The HIV/AIDS pandemic is far from over,” said Dr. Dan Garganera, a certified internal medicine and adult infectious diseases specialist at the Will County Community Health Center. “In 2024, there were over 1.1 million people aged 13 years and older in the United States living with HIV. There were also over 39,000 newly diagnosed cases that year. World AIDS Day is for solidarity for the millions affected by HIV, a remembrance for loved ones lost, and reaffirming the fight to end HIV/AIDS.”

HIV/AIDS is also a local issue in Will County and the Chicago area. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), there are nearly 20,000 people living with HIV in eligible metropolitan area of Chicago as of June 2025. This includes nearly 600 Will County residents.

The Will County Health Department and Community Health Center has been fighting to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS since 2017, through the Care Clinic. The Care Clinic offers HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment, Post, and Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP & PrEP). The Care Clinic began offering infectious disease physician services in April of 2024, which now allows for HIV care and treatment even for underserved individuals with little or no insurance coverage. PrEP is 99-100% effective at preventing HIV infections for persons at risk. The Care Clinic offers all four FDA-Approved drugs for HIV prevention including oral medication (Truvada and Descovy) and injectable medication (Apretude and Yeztugo).

The Care Clinic also collaborates with other organizations like IDPH and AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), utilizing various grants and programs to assist clients and align with the “Getting to Zero Illinois” initiative. “Getting to Zero Illinois” is a joint effort between the IDPH, AFC and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) with the goal of reducing new HIV transmission, supporting the health of people living HIV and AIDS and help Illinois get to a point where the HIV epidemic can no longer sustain itself.

With HIV treatment now being available at the Care Clinic, the clinic is currently seeing a significant number of HIV-positive patients who previously could not find care due to being uninsured. Additional patients have transferred their medical care to the Care Clinic. The Care Clinic now services over 185 HIV positive persons. Since the start of 2024, the Clinic has had over 1,100 kept appointments. Appointments at the Care Clinic can be scheduled by calling 815-727-8670.

“Despite less publicity and fanfare, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is still here,” said Garganera. “There is still no cure and people are still dying from it. The big difference is there are now highly effective life-saving medications which can also be used for prevention. Many individuals are unknowingly infected while others may still engage in risky behavior so there are opportunities to break the cycle. There is a continuing need for community education and awareness, not just focused on the high-risk groups as anyone may be at risk. Widespread, confidential and affordable testing must be available. For those at higher risk, PrEP is available and highly effective. For those infected, there are HIV treatments available backed up by social and financial support services. There is a need for sustained funding, research, and collaboration with other organizations, and engagement with the community in this long, drawn-out fight. This December 1st on World AIDS Day, let us not forget this somewhat forgotten epidemic.“