For Immediate Release
June 15, 2018
Contact Information

Ronald Henderson
Health Equity Manager/Statewide Minority AIDS Coordinator
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Mail Bin A09
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1715
Phone: (850) 245-4433

(BPRW) SOS Celebrates 10th Year Anniversary

Sistas Organizing to Survive launches a social media campaign

(Black PR Wire) TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Over the past year, the Florida Department of Health has been consulting with a group of black women from across the state of Florida to make recommendations that would end HIV in Florida among black women. In addition, the Black Women Advisory Group has been developing strategies to heighten awareness of HIV/AIDS among black women and other health issues that has been disproportionately impacting black women.

Ten years ago, the Florida Department of Health launched Sistas Organizing to Survive (SOS) at a conference is Orlando, Florida. SOS is a Florida homegrown community mobilization initiative designed to help women talk about HIV/AIDS where they live work, play and worship. The original goal of SOS was to test 100,000 black women for HIV by 2010. We are happy to report that the Florida Department of Health exceeded that goal!

On the days of June 18, 19, and 20, 2018, marks the ten-year anniversary of SOS. The black women advisory group has requested that the Florida Department of Health assist them in coordinating a social media education campaign designed to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS in Florida. On the days mentioned above, we are requesting that you use the hashtag (#FloridaSOS) to post pre-developed messages on community partners social media platforms. We have provided you with a list of partners’ social media profile addresses (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to post messages. 

The goal of this social media blitz is to educate and increase awareness of HIV for more than 100,000 black women living in Florida. Please share this information with groups in your local communities, friends of your social media platforms, churches, businesses and others. We hope that you participate in this historic education campaign to stop HIV in the state of Florida.

If you like to become a member of SOS, please send an email to: ronald.henderson@flhealth.gov

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