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Broward County presented its new HIV
prevention plan on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, February 7, 2013. The
plan’s core is High Impact Prevention (HIP), consisting of condom distribution,
prevention for HIV-positive people, increased HIV testing, structural
initiatives to align policies with HIV strategies, and social marketing.
The Broward County Health Department
began a series of meetings in 2011 with HIV prevention and treatment providers,
resulting in Broward’s local plan titled, “Jurisdictional Prevention Plan
2012–2016: Defining HIV Planning through Our Eyes.” This new plan establishes
the Broward County HIV Prevention Planning Council (BCHPPC), a 21-member
overall planning body comprised of three teams—the High Impact Prevention Team,
the Epidemiology and Research Team, and the Policy Team—and four workgroups
that highlight the following major target groups: Blacks, Latinos, men who have
sex with men (MSM) of all races, and Transgender people. The workgroups provide
a link between the communities and prevention planning. All those interested in
joining one of these workgroups may do so. For the Black Advisory Group, call
Donna Markland at (954) 467–4700, extension 5600; for the Latino Group, call
Evelyn Morales at (954) 467–4700, extension 5705; for the MSM Advisory Group,
call John Daily at (954) 467–4700, extension 5528; and for the Transgender
Advisory Group, call (954) 467–4700 and ask the operator for the Trans
coordinator. The plan acknowledges all the workgroups and lists their members
with one exception, which is the MSM Advisory Group. MSM Coordinator John Daily
states that gay and bisexual men did participate in the writing of the plan,
but as individuals.
Co-Chair of the Florida HIV Advocacy
Network Joey Wynn criticized both the plan and the plan’s development process,
stating, “The Broward County Health Department’s HIV Prevention Program has
been working on this plan for the past two years and only recently hired a gay
man to work on this plan. It is time for gay men to get back to our advocacy
roots; HIV is still a huge issue for gay men, especially in South Florida.”
All are urged to read the full plan,
discuss it, and provide feedback, especially gay, bisexual and other MSM, who
comprise approximately 67 percent of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Broward.
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!
