April is STD Awareness Month and the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is using the occasion to initiate its new mobile testing van along with a campaign to test at least 4,000 Bexar County residents for sexually transmitted diseases. The campaign, tagged #IKnowMyStatusSA, kicked off last week with the testing van traveling the city manned…
World AIDS Day Serves as Reminder of High Rate of HIV Infections in San Antonio
The global observance of World AIDS Day on December 1 serves as a reminder that San Antonio has what the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District describes in a report as, “a stubbornly high rate of new infections, and widespread stigma and lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS.” Globally, there are an estimated 36.7 million people who…
City Councilman’s Challenge Leads to 4,000 HIV Tests in SA in April
More than 4,000 San Antonians were tested for HIV during the month of April, in response to a challenge issued to the City Council by fellow Councilman William “Cruz” Shaw. According to Metro Health, for the past ten years Bexar County’s new HIV diagnosis rates have been consistently higher than the state and national rates.…
San Antonio Vows to End AIDS by 2030
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. San Antonio has become the first city in Texas to sign onto an international initiative to eradicate AIDS by 2030. The initiative, known as Fast Track Cities, has three goals in mind for San Antonio residents: that 90 percent of people with HIV are diagnosed (currently 86 percent),…
SA Observances to Mark World AIDS Day 2017
San Antonians will be among the millions of people around the globe who will be observing World AIDS Day on December 1. The observance, which was started in 1988, is billed as an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate…
American Idol Alum David Hernandez to Perform at Webb Party
The San Antonio AIDS Foundation’s Webb Party returns after a one-year hiatus on April 21 at the Bonham Exchange with the 80’s theme, “Reboot,” and a live entertainment roster headlined by American Idol alumnus David Hernandez. As one of SAAF’s signature fundraising events, the Webb usually attracts over 1,500 guests and helps raise over $100,000…
SAAF Announces Return of WEBB Party in 2017
After a year-long hiatus, the San Antonio AIDS Foundation announced the return of the WEBB Party on April 21, 2017 as an official Fiesta San Antonio event to be held at the historic Bonham Exchange nightclub. As one of SAAF’s signature fundraising events, the WEBB generally attracts over 1,500 guests and helps raise over $100,000 annually for…
San Antonio Aids Foundation (SAAF) Offers Free HIV Testing on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Since 1999, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day has been observed on February 7 to educate and bring awareness to members of the community who may currently be living with HIV, and those who are most at risk of contracting the virus. This year’s theme is “I Am My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper, Fight HIV/AIDS!” According to…
SA sees slight drop in HIV infections
With World AIDS Day approaching on December 1, recent statistics from the Texas Department of State Health Services show a slight drop in HIV infections in Bexar County. In 2014, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 329 new cases of HIV infections reported in Bexar County. That is down from 375…
Grand opening for SAAF testing center
Although the San Antonio AIDS opened their new testing center last July, the official grand opening will be observed on Saturday, September 12 with an open house. “We want everyone to come out, have fun and see what we have to offer,” says Regina Villalobos-Perez, vice president of marketing at SAAF. “We encourage people to…