The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) is highlighting the latest advancements in the prevention and treatment of HIV/ AIDS at its World AIDS Day event scheduled for Friday, December 6, at 6:30 PM at the organization’s Cambridge office on 1046 Cambridge Street.

The annual event organized by MAPS’ HIV/STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) Prevention team of community health workers joins the international day designated on December 1 since 1988. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic, fight harmful stigmas and stereotypes, and, more recently, highlight the fact that, with proper care and treatment, people who receive a positive diagnosis can live long, healthy lives.

At the December 6 event, MAPS community health workers will be joined by Jessica Wisocky, APRN, founder of Pathway to Better Health, which provides compassionate, high-quality healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community in the Lowell area. She will share her experience caring for the community and highlight the many barriers that the fight against HIV/ AIDS has been able to overcome, the latest prevention options such as PrEP, and the most recent treatments available for those living with the disease.

“The fight against HIV/ AIDS has come a long way over the last decade especially, and this event is a celebration of all of this amazing progress,” said Carlos Mattos, manager of the HIV /STI services at MAPS. “We hope our community will join us to learn more about our work and our commitment to keeping our community members healthy, to remember those who have lost their lives to the disease and celebrate those living positively.”

HIV remains a significant global public health issue, affecting almost 40 million people around the world. The risk of transmission can be reduced by using prevention in intimate relationships, being tested for STIs regularly, and avoiding sharing non-sterilized needles.

MAPS offers no-cost, confidential tests for HIV/ AIDS, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and HEP C. The organization’s community health workers offer personalized risk reduction plans and connections to healthcare and provide information about PrEP and other prevention options. Throughout the year, MAPS also hosts free health clinics every week out of its seven offices. More information about MAPS’ HIV/STI program can be found at maps-inc.org/hiv-sti.