World Aids Day 2019 – Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Community by Community

Nov 29, 2019

This year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched an ambitious plan called “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America” to reduce the incidence of HIV domestically by 75% in 5 years, and by 90% by 2030. The National Institutes of Health has played — and will continue to play — a pivotal role in supporting the innovative science underpinning this effort. In fact, NIH-funded research provided the scientific basis to even consider ending the epidemic as a feasible goal. Read more at: https://www.hiv.gov/blog/nih-statement-world-aids-day-2019.

In acknowledgment of WORLD AIDS DAY on Sunday, December 1st, Wellpath’s clinical leaders would like to share the following key facts about HIV:

  • In the United States, an estimated 15% of persons living with HIV have not yet been diagnosed.
  • Upon entry into jail or prison, it is estimated that approximately 22% of HIV-positive individuals are unaware they have HIV infection.
  • The prevalence of HIV among incarcerated individuals is 1.3%, which is more than three times higher than among the general population.
  • HIV can be diagnosed through rapid diagnostic tests that can provide same-day results. This greatly facilitates diagnosis and linkage with treatment and care.
  • Jails, prisons, and community corrections are important settings in which to test individuals for HIV, especially given that many persons involved with the criminal justice system may be hard to reach with routine community-based testing.
  • Incarceration often offers a structured environment to initiate and continue antiretroviral medications.
  • Between 2000 and 2018, new HIV infections fell by 37% and HIV-related deaths fell by 45%, with 13.6 million lives saved due to HIV antiretroviral medications.
  • We, at Wellpath, provide care to approximately 1,250 patients with the diagnosis of HIV every month.
  • Wellpath’s healthcare providers prescribe and administer over 84,000 prescriptions to treat HIV infections annually.
  • While we are waiting on the cure, there is always the opportunity to provide HOPE and HEALING for our patients.

World AIDS Day 2019 Resources:

  1. https://www.hiv.uw.edu/go/key-populations/hiv-corrections/core-concept/all#hiv-testing-correctional-setting
  2. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids