BPHC Bulletin: World AIDS Day

December 1, 2023

Dear Colleagues:

Today, HRSA commemorates World AIDS Day. This day of solidarity honors all people who have been affected by HIV, including the millions of people with HIV in the U.S. and around the world. The theme for this year’s awareness day, the 35th commemoration, is “World AIDS Day 35: Remember and Commit.” This message is fitting as we remember those we have lost and come together to emphasize our collective commitment to end the HIV epidemic.

We commemorated this occasion during this week’s Today with Macrae webcast. (If you missed it, watch the recording or access the slides on our website.)

Dr. Laura Cheever from the HIV AIDS Bureau (shown upper left) shared key accomplishments from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP).

• The program served nearly 560,000 people with HIV in 2022, over half of all people with diagnosed HIV in the U.S.
• Of RWHAP clients receiving HIV medical care, 89.6% were virally suppressed, which means they can live longer and healthier lives without fear of sexually transmitting HIV to their partners.
• The percentage of Black/African American clients, Hispanic/Latino clients, and youth and young adult clients receiving care through the program and achieving viral suppression all far exceed overall national viral suppression rates.

She invited everyone to engage with HRSA’s World AIDS Day X thread campaign on @HRSAgov and use #HRSAHonorsWAD.

We also featured two speakers from Northern Nevada Hopes (upper right) and Bedford-Stuyvesant Family Health Center (bottom center). Each discussed how their health centers have made progress in ending the HIV epidemic and exemplify health centers’ lasting commitment to this goal. Both emphasized the importance of Community Health Workers (CHWs):

• At Bedford-Stuyvesant FHC, about 85% of the staff are from the community and the benefits are many: Community trust is more easily built because staff truly understand the experience of those they serve. These staff can also identify and share barriers to care that exist in the community – like lack of transportation or housing issues.
  
  
• At Northern Nevada Hopes, they’ve seen that CHWs often forge relationships with other safety net providers in the area and those relationships can benefit all patients. For example, there’s an organization that holds education dinners to address people’s need for food while providing some education.

All health centers play a critical role and have made tremendous progress in ending HIV. According to 2022 Uniform Data System data:

• Health centers provided over 3.4 million HIV tests – a 7% increase since 2021 and a 40% increase since 2020.
• More than 84,000 patients received PrEP for HIV – a 7% increase since 2021.

Health centers, thank you for all that you do to end the HIV epidemic for your patients, your communities, and this nation.

I have one more picture to share, and one more ask to make of you. First, HRSA employees gathered at headquarters in November to create this red ribbon picture. Yes, I am in there – look for the red tie! Second, in commemoration of World AIDS Day today, I hope you’ll consider sharing your own picture with us by Wednesday, December 6. Please submit it through the BPHC Contact Form (General/Other HRSA > Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates) and include name, title, and a completed Photo Release Form (PDF) for each person in the photo. Again, thank you. None of this progress would be possible without your hard work and continued dedication to serving your communities. Sincerely, Jim Macrae HRSA Associate Administrator