Palmetto State Extra: Your Health and You

**New HIV Prevention Campaign “Me In You, You In Me” Launches**

New York, NY – May 10, 2022 – Today, celebrities, influencers, and advocates launched an HIV prevention campaign “Me in You, You in Me” on YouTube. The campaign aims to bring communities together to de-stigmatize, normalize and catalyze open conversations around HIV prevention. The PSA, featuring celebrities, influencers and advocates, launched on ViiV Healthcare’s YouTube channel today with couplet videos of all those involved in the campaign.

Participants featured in “Me in You, You in Me” include businesswoman, fashion designer and philanthropist Tina Knowles-Lawson (@mstinalawson), sports analyst and former NBA-player Jalen Rose (@jalenvseverybody), actor, comedian and activist Kalen Allen (@thekalenallen), photographer Juan Veloz (@jveloz), TikTok influencer and activist Ve’ondre Mitchell (@veondremitchell), & model and sex worker Reno Gold (@reno_gold). “Me in You, You in Me” powerfully illustrates how finding community in others and overcoming bias are crucial to ensuring that everyone can play a part in HIV prevention.

In a social experiment aimed at stripping away our culture’s pre-existing biases and stigmas, participants were asked to build a connection sight unseen. Me in You, You in Me brought together people who at first glance may have appeared different based on what they looked like, their backgrounds, and their experiences. In their initial conversations, the participants spoke anonymously. They were tasked with finding common ground around community and HIV prevention by discussing the ways in which they want to be loved, how they want to be seen, what makes them feel powerful, how they want to be desired, and their reasons for participating in the campaign. Several weeks later they met on a set in New York City and we filmed the moment they opened their eyes and "saw" each other for the first time, creating an impactful showcase of shared human experience.

“In a world where we are often reminded of all the ways we are different, this campaign is an exploration of all things we share. It’s an invitation to find community in and with each other to increase everyone’s acceptance of and participation in HIV prevention,” said Marc Meachem, Head of US External Affairs, ViiV Healthcare. “Recognizing that the communities most disproportionately affected by HIV are those who have benefited the least from the advances in HIV prevention, this campaign seeks to ensure that all people are aware of the different options to prevent HIV and to connect them to resources.”

At its core, “Me in You, You in Me” aims to spotlight that while HIV prevention is an individual act, it is also a community effort where we all have a role to play. For some, participation looks like individuals accessing HIV prevention medications, while for others it might be understanding U=U and utilizing HIV treatment as prevention; for families, friends and communities, prevention might involve normalizing prevention conversations, educating others on the importance of HIV prevention, creating spaces where people are encouraged and supported for prioritizing their sexual health, and shifting the narrative surrounding HIV.

The campaign was produced by creative and entertainment studio Harley & Co. and directed by Sarah Hall and Arthur Vallin.

For more information on “Me in You, You in Me,” visit www.hivpreventionforus.com

**DHEC, CareSouth Carolina Announce Opening Of New Combined Location In Dillon County**

DILLON, S.C. -- Through a collaborative effort, CareSouth Carolina and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) are opening a new locaction in Dillon, S.C., May 10, that will allow the two organizations to provide more convenient and accessible services to Dillon County.

The office, located at 1016 Old Latta Hwy. in Dillon will become the new location for both CareSouth Carolina (previously located at 207 E. Monroe Street) and DHEC’s Dillon County Health Department (previously located at 201 W. Hampton St.). The last day of operations at both of those sites was May 4.

"This is a great opportunity for collaboration and we couldn't have better partners in this than CareSouth Carolina and Dillon County Government," said Jim Bruckner, DHEC's public health director for the Pee Dee. "The co-location of DHEC and CareSouth Carolina services will expand access to more comprehensive health services by making them more convenient and accessible to the residents of Dillon County.

"In this partnership CareSouth Carolina will be assuming some of the direct clinical services currently provided by DHEC. DHEC will continue to see its Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clients and will focus on the more traditional core public health services like disease management, tuberculosis surveillance and treatment, vaccinations, newborn home visits when applicable, and community health promotion and education efforts. Our goal in all of this is to make Dillon County a healthy and thriving community to live and work in.”

Bruckner said DHEC will continue working with the community on projects like Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Planning.

CareSouth Carolina will begin providing several preventative health services currently provided at DHEC, including family planning, Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)/Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) counseling, HIV support and immunizations.

CareSouth Carolina also will be providing all the services it currently offers at its medical office. All clients served by DHEC will be transferred automatically, and no one will lose access to these services.

CareSouth Carolina CEO Ann Lewis said the building will be a truly innovative combination of services for Dillon County residents.

“This will be a one-stop shop innovation that brings together partners who have been successfully working together for a considerable length of time to make the vision of this new building and the combined services a reality,” Lewis said. “With the DHEC provision of WIC services combined with the expansion of the CareSouth family planning and immunization services, residents of Dillon County will have simple, easy access to a wide array of care and services in one building.”

The new 18,640 square feet facility more than quadruples CareSouth Carolina’s capacity to provide services to Dillon County and the surrounding areas. In addition to the services provided at the current location, the new facility also will provide space for additional primary care providers and additional support services including a pharmacy with a drive-thru.

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony with representatives from DHEC and CareSouth leadership and community representatives is currently scheduled for June 11. A separate release prior to that event will provide additional details.

**Tidelands Health Nursing Assistants Honored With Caring Hearts Awards**

Charlene Bossany of Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital and Felicia McCullough of Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital earned this year’s Caring Hearts awards.

Tidelands Health presents Caring Hearts awards annually to recognize team members who demonstrate extraordinary teamwork and a commitment to help patients, visitors and colleagues. Winners are known as team players who take initiative and execute their roles with a positive attitude, patience and a heart of gold.

Bossany received four nominations commending her caring nature to her patients, team members and community. She’s known as a team player, always willing to pick up an extra shift and pitch in wherever needed. She also helps the community, organizing a gift collection during the holidays for a local nursing home.

“Charlene is an asset to 3 West and Tidelands Health,” a team member wrote in the nomination. “Charlene’s patients are complimentary of the care she provides. Her peers enjoy working with her and know they can count on Charlene.”

The team member who nominated McCullough called her “one of the best aides I know.” McCullough provides exemplary care to patients and always keeps the patient rooms neatly organized and cabinets fully stocked with supplies. She also serves as a mentor for other nursing assistants.

“She cares for people with her whole heart and works so hard every shift,” a team member wrote in the nomination. “She deserves this award because she makes this floor better than she found it and does her very best.”

The winners were honored during a recent Caring Hearts award celebration.

“Charlene and Felicia bring wisdom, patience, humor and a general attitude of caring to the lives of our patients and truly embody the compassion and spirit of our Tidelands Health team,” said Ashley Capps, vice president of nursing and operations. “We are proud to honor them with the Caring Hearts award for all they do every day for our patients, visitors and team members.”

**McLeod Health Celebrates Nurses Week**

McLeod Health joins the American Nurses Association in recognizing National Nurses Week, which is held each year May 6 through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
We honor the work of our nurses who day in and day out lead, excel and innovate. McLeod nurses are heroes who serve with expert hands and compassionate hearts.
McLeod Health employs more than 2,700 licensed nurses (Registered Nurses; Advanced Practice Nurses – including Certified Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse Midwives; as well as Licensed Practical Nurses) and each one has a critical responsibility to uphold the highest level of quality in their practice to ensure the delivery of superior health care to patients, families and their community.
Throughout the years, nursing has progressed from traditional nursing care to more than 100 nursing specialties.
Each hospital will have ongoing celebrations recognizing National Nurses Week, including Nurse of the Year announcements, to recognize the incredible work McLeod Health Nurses do every day.

**DHEC Celebrates South Carolina’s Hospitals and Dedicated Healthcare Workers during National Hospital Week**

COLUMBIA, S.C. – As National Hospital Week (May 8-14) is recognized across the country, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) praises South Carolina’s hospitals and healthcare workers for their courageous and caring roles in protecting people’s health.

In addition to the lifesaving work skilled staff and healthcare professionals perform every day, for more than two years, they endured the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working tirelessly to care for patients and limit spread of the virus. Hospital workers also have been an integral part of the implementation of South Carolina’s COVID-19 testing and vaccination strategies, helping to perform more than 16 million COVID tests and administer more than 4.9 million doses of COVID vaccines. nursing and health care whose activism helped reform and improve medical treatment and patient care.

“Our state's hospital workers are invaluable,” said Gwendolyn Thompson, DHEC Director of Healthcare Quality. “We at DHEC send a resounding thank-you to all of our state’s medical professionals and hospital support staff who provide essential, life-altering care to South Carolinians in need and who have exceeded all expectations in the face of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.”

**DHEC Says No Public Health Threat Has Been Linked to Ducks that Died In Horry County**

COLUMBIA, S.C. ―The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is aware that a group of ducks recently died in Horry County. At this time, no threat to public health has been identified linked to these ducks.
As a general precaution, it’s recommended that people avoid contact with wild birds and other wild animals, particularly those that appear sick, injured, or dead. If you find a wild bird or animal in need, it is advised that you contact a wildlife professional to assist the animal. Avoiding contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces or other secretions from wild birds or other animals is also recommended.
People who might have contact with poultry or wild birds due to their job or as part of recreational activities, such as hunting, should use protective wear (like gloves, a medical facemask, and eye protection), wash their hands with soap and water after touching birds, and change their clothes before contact with healthy domestic poultry and after handling wild birds. Then, throw away the gloves and facemask.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been making headlines this year as this illness has been detected in wild birds and domestic poultry in multiple states. The risk to the general public from HPAI is considered to be low but DHEC continues to monitor this situation. Even the recent report of a person testing positive for avian influenza A (H5) virus has not changed the risk status for the general public.