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Government, researchers, and the
District of Columbia community pulled together to make progress in the area’s
HIV/AIDS fight, according to an 11-member panel discussion among stakeholders
during the 19th International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Washington.
Nearly 3 percent of District
residents have HIV, but annual HIV/AIDS mortality figures have declined by
almost half, from 399 in 2006 to 207 in 2010. New HIV diagnoses in 2010 dropped
24 percent compared with 2006. Panel members cited drastic improvements in
testing, prevention, and ongoing observation of HIV-positive people, and they
noted plans to continue community partnerships and conduct more research.
A turning point came in 2007, when
the District and National Institutes of Health partnered on studies of people
living with HIV, said A. Toni Young, executive director of the Community
Education Group.
The District has since gained
recognition for its academic community’s role in AIDS research, with 61
research abstracts presented at IAC, said Dr. Gregory Pappas, director of
D.C.’s HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration.
Community-based organizations can
use the office’s data on HIV testing, prevention, and demographics, Young said.
For instance, the D.C. Center for AIDS Research and the District Department of
Health conducted part of a national HIV behavioral surveillance survey of
high-risk groups. That data helped almost triple the amount of research grants
awarded from NIH, from eight in 2008 to 22 this year, panelists said. However,
CBOs need more health department direction on using the data, added Katitia
Pitts, executive director of Calvary Healthcare.
Identifying gaps in care is the aim
of an expected 12-clinic study of 3,300 city patients with HIV, said Dr. Andrea
Castel. It also will collect information about HIV risks, treatments,
diagnoses, and lab results, she said.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
