December 1, 2016
Dear Colleague,
December 1 is World AIDS Day, a day to unite in the fight against
HIV, support people living with HIV, and honor those who have lost their
life.
This year’s theme, Leadership. Commitment. Impact., asks
each of us to strengthen our commitment to stop HIV using the most
up-to-date, evidence-based HIV interventions, prevention tools, and
testing options available.
In 2015, 39,513 people received a diagnosis
of HIV, and over 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United
States.
Recent trends in HIV diagnoses show some promising signs of progress.
From 2010 to 2014, the annual number of HIV diagnoses in the United States declined by 9%, driven by declines among heterosexuals and people who inject drugs (PWID).
From 2010 to 2014, the annual number of HIV diagnoses in the United States declined by 9%, driven by declines among heterosexuals and people who inject drugs (PWID).
Diagnoses stabilized
among gay and bisexual men overall, though trends varied
by age, race and ethnicity.
African Americans and Latinos continue to
be disproportionally affected by HIV, compared with other races and
ethnicities.
Despite gains in HIV prevention among PWID, the prescription opioid
epidemic and increases in heroin use may threaten this success.
PWID are
at high risk for HIV and viral hepatitis if they share injection
equipment.
Today, we have options to help ensure that all PWID have
access to prevention services. According to a new edition of CDC’s Vital Signs, released this week,
- PWID account for 9% of HIV diagnoses in the United States, though they make up only 0.3% of the population.
- Last year, only 1 in 4 PWID (in 22 US cities) got all their syringes from sterile sources such as syringe services programs (SSPs) and pharmacies.
- SSPs that are comprehensive not only provide PWID with better access to sterile injection equipment, but also medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder, HIV and hepatitis testing, and other HIV prevention options like condoms, behavioral interventions, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, a daily pill that can prevent HIV).
States and local communities now have the opportunity to use federal funds under some circumstances to support SSPs.
CDC guidance is available for partners interested in implementing SSPs, where permitted by local law.
On World AIDS Day and every day, CDC is dedicated to reducing new HIV
infections among all populations and improving health outcomes for
those who are living with HIV.
Current activities include
- Awards of at least $330 million each year since 2012 ($343.7 million in 2015) to health departments to direct resources to the populations and geographic areas of greatest need and prioritize the HIV prevention strategies that will have the greatest impact.
- The Capacity Building Assistance for High-Impact HIV Prevention national program that provides training and technical assistance for health departments, community-based organizations, and health care organizations to help them better address gaps in the HIV continuum of care and provide high-impact prevention to HIV-negative persons.
- The Act Against AIDS initiative that raises awareness about HIV testing and prevention through campaigns and partnerships. For example,
- Let’s Stop HIV Together is a campaign that raises awareness and fights stigma among all Americans and provides stories about people living with HIV.
- Doing It is a national testing and prevention campaign that encourages all adults to know their HIV status and make HIV testing a part of their regular health routine.
- Partnering and Communicating Together (PACT) to Act Against AIDS is a partnership with organizations such as AIDS United and I Choose Life to raise HIV awareness among populations disproportionately affected by HIV.
Thank you for your hard work and commitment to prevent HIV.
Through
our commitment, collaboration, and coordination, we can continue to
reduce HIV incidence for all Americans and help all people with HIV live
long, healthy lives.
Sincerely, /Jonathan Mermin/
Jonathan H. Mermin, MD, MPH
RADM and Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS
Director
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/nchhstp
/Eugene McCray/
Eugene McCray, MD
Director
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/hiv
