July 17, 2017 BY imani leave a comment
In 2009 Washington DC officials reported that the HIV rate in the nation’s capital was “On par with Uganda and some parts of Kenya.” Just how far the city has come since then is being highlighted in a new report chronicling the ninth consecutive year in which the number of new HIV cases has decreased.
The Annual Epidemiology & Surveillance Report showed the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases decreased to 347 in 2016. This represents a decline of 52 percent from 720 cases in 2011 and 73 percent from 1,333 cases in 2007. The result is that 12,964 residents of D.C. are living with HIV; that is 1.9 percent of the population and a dramatic improvement over the 3 percent of the population that was previously reported.
The number of annual HIV infections has been on a nationwide decline as the result of new, high- impact approaches to prevention. These include an arsenal of tools made up of increased testing and awareness campaigns, condom distributions, increased use of preventive medications like PrEP to halt the spread of the disease and a successful needle exchange program. City officials also recently partnered with local nonprofits to develop even more ambitious strategies for prevention and treatment.
MASS regularly hosts free confidential testing events through out the Hampton Roads region and is a leading provider of early intervention services. These include HIV/STD Education, HIV Testing, Counseling and Referrals, and Outreach services. We have an experienced professional staff to provide administration and direct care services. All staff members are competent to perform the responsibilities of their job descriptions as supported by appropriate education, certifications, licensing, training and resumes. See our Upcoming Events for free and confidential testing opportunities in the area.