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Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), HIV

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), HIV

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a very serious condition that affects the body’s ability to fight infection. A diagnosis of AIDS is often made when a person develops an illness not usually found in a person with a normal ability to fight infection. For instance, one of the diseases most often found in people with AIDS is a lung infection called Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. It is an unusual disease, not the AIDS infection itself, that can lead to death.

Associations/Groups:

AIDS Action 

Founded in 1983, AIDS Action is New England’s largest AIDS service organization.
75 Amory Street
Boston, MA 02119
Phone: 617-437-6200
TTY: 617-437-1394

HIV/STD Counseling & Testing 

AIDS Action is a safe and respectful place to receive testing and counseling for HIV and other STDs.
75 Amory Street
Boston, MA 02119
Phone: 617-437-6200

Massachusetts AIDS Hotline

Phone: 800 235-2331 (English, Spanish)
TTY: 617-437-1672
Phone: 888-443-4372 (Hepatitis C Hotline)
Mon-Thurs 9AM-9PM, Fri 9AM – 7:30PM Translation services available.
Email: hotline@aac.org
Office Hours: Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Find HIV Care 

Find a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program where low-income people with HIV can get HIV care and support.

AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod 

Direct services include extensive case management, transportation assistance, access to food and nutrition services and whole range of other services to help people with HIV/AIDS lead healthy lives.
Phone: 508-487-9445 (Provincetown)
Prevention and Screening: 508-487-8311 (Provincetown) 
Phone: 508-778-1954 (Hyannis)

Boston Living Center

Offers a variety of services to those living with HIV/ AIDS – free hair cuts, access passes to Boston gyms, support systems, education workshops and nutritious meals. Call for new membership.  Services are free.
Address: 29 Stanhope Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-236-1012
TTY: 617-267-7059

BAMSI – The C.O.P.E. Center 

Provides HIV outreach, education, counseling, and testing to individuals at highest risk for HIV and opiate overdose including injection drug users and their sexual and drug-using partners; sex industry workers; gay and bisexual men; and other populations disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.
Address: 10 Christy’s Drive
Brockton, MA 02301
Phone: 508 580-0219

Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health HIV/ AIDS Bureau 

Works with clinical and non-clinical community programs, people living with HIV/AIDS, and others to advance HIV prevention and care services.
250 Washington Street, 3rd FL
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617 983-6550

Multicultural AIDS Coalition 

Works to ensure high quality, accessible prevention and treatment services for people living with HIV, at high risk for becoming infected, or closely affected by the disease.
9 Palmer Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
Phone: 617 442-1622

AIDS Treatment Information Service 

Monday -Friday 12:00 PM – 5 PM
Phone: 800 448-0440

National AIDS Hotline

CDC’s national health information hotline, providing answers to your questions regarding HIV, how to protect yourself, and where to get an HIV test.

Phone: 800 CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

Other Information:

AIDSVu /National, State & Local Sites 

The national, state and local map views on AIDSVu allow users to visually explore resources such as HIV testing center locations, HIV treatment center locations, and NIH-Funded HIV Prevention & Vaccine Trials Sites.

Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse 

Provides free health promotion materials for Massachusetts residents and health and social service providers on various health topics including HIV/AIDS
Phone: 800 952-6637 (Toll-Free tri-lingual phone line – accessible in English, Spanish or Portuguese)

HIV/AIDS Educational Materials & Resources

Developed by MA Dept of Public Health (DPH).

Fact Sheet last updated on: 8/12/2024

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