PHILADELPHIA, PA —A new educational initiative, Fade Out HIV: Barber and Clinician Outreach in Philadelphia, is bringing free health screenings to local barbershops on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, February 7, 2025. The program, spearheaded by DKBmed in partnership with Bebashi and Major League Barber Company, aims to close healthcare gaps for Black residents disproportionately impacted by HIV.
The event will include confidential HIV screenings performed by Bebashi’s mobile testing lab. Participants will receive a $20 Visa gift card and results within minutes. The screenings are scheduled at the following times and locations across Philadelphia:
- Suite Cuts, 2100 S. 20th St. (South Philly): 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Hair Wizards, 1801 Cottman Ave. (Northeast Philly): 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- ESPM Hair Zone, 5929 W. Girard Ave. (West Philly): 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Black Americans currently account for 40% of new HIV infections in the U.S. Despite medical advancements, significant barriers to care remain, including mistrust of healthcare providers and limited access to preventative treatments like PrEP. This has led to disparities, with only 13% of Black individuals who qualify for PrEP receiving prescriptions, compared to 94% of White individuals.
Key to the program’s approach is leveraging the trust barbers build with their clients. Educators like Tyrik Jackson, a licensed international barber and founder of the Premier Barbering Institute, emphasize the importance of knowing one’s status and staying informed. “HIV is still prevalent,” said Jackson, who lost his father to AIDS in 1995. “I want folks to know there’s hope—it’s not a death sentence anymore.”
The initiative also includes educating both barbers and clinicians to create a referral network, connecting clients to local healthcare providers. Fade Out HIV builds on the success of a similar program in Los Angeles that trained nearly 700 barbers and clinicians.
With Philadelphia’s HIV rate among Black residents three times the national average, organizers hope this targeted outreach will make a lasting impact and help reduce stigma around testing and treatment.
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