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

  • Cambridge Office
    359 Green Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
    Phone: 617-437-6200
  • North Shore Office / Cornerstone Wellness Center
    156 Broad Street, Suite 205, Lynn, MA 01901
    Phone: 781-581-2393
  • Youth on Fire
    1 Church Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
    Phone: 617-661-2508

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
617-437-6200

Massachusetts AIDS Hotline:
Phone: 800 235-2331 (English, Spanish)
TTY: 617-437-1672
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

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.
508-487-9445 (Provincetown)
508-487-8311 (Provincetown) Prevention and Screening
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.
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.
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
Fax: 617 442-6622

AIDS Treatment Information Service Monday -Friday 12:00 PM – 5 PM
Phone: 800 448-0440

National AIDS Hotline  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 Service & Resource Guide (pdf) – Developed by Dept of Public Health, Last updated September 2017

Fact Sheet last updated on: 9/16/2021

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