High-impact HIV prevention and surveillance programs for health departments - new york city (NYC) has the largest urban HIV epidemic in the western hemisphere, with 132,003 people diagnosed with…

High-impact HIV prevention and surveillance programs for health departments - new york city (NYC) has the largest urban HIV epidemic in the western hemisphere, with 132,003 people diagnosed with HIV, reported in NYC and presumed to be living as of december 31, 2022. 87.2% (115,139) of these individuals reside in the four NYC EHE counties of bronx, kings (brooklyn), new york (manhattan), and queens. HIV continues to disproportionately affect certain NYC communities, including black and latino men who have SEX with men, transgender persons, cisgender women of color, the uninsured and underinsured, youth ages 13-29, and people 50 and older. Between 2018 and 2022, new diagnoses in NYC decreased 17%, while care outcomes for people with HIV (PWH) improved, with 88% in care and 80% of those in care virally suppressed in 2022. However, these advances have not been observed equally across communities or priority populations, underscoring the work still to be done. To address the HIV epidemic in NYC and reduce HIV-related inequities, the bureau of hepatitis, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections (bhhs) of the NYC department of health and mental hygiene will build on the successes its comprehensive and integrated HIV surveillance and prevention program achieved under previous funding from the U.S. Department of health & human services, as well as city-funded ending the epidemic initiatives. Under PS24-0047, bhhs will strive to achieve the national ending the HIV epidemic (EHE) goal of a 90% reduction in new HIV infections by 2030 by increasing and routinizing HIV screening and testing in healthcare and non-healthcare settings to facilitate early diagnosis and increase awareness of HIV status; increasing linkage to, and engagement and RE-engagement in, HIV medical care to ensure rapid treatment initiation and viral suppression; increasing screening, referral, and linkage to prep, PEP, and other HIV prevention services, including syringe service programs, to prevent transmission; improving ability to respond to HIV transmission clusters and outbreaks; conducting HIV surveillance activities to ensure actionable data; and strengthening existing partnerships with a diverse set of community stakeholders to inform all activities. Implementation will be multi-pronged, including through contracting with community-based organizations to provide direct services, supporting the city's sexual health clinics and tuberculosis chest centers to provide services, and developing and disseminating educational and guidance documents for providers and consumers. Bhhs will continue to implement a status neutral approach to HIV testing, diagnosis, treatment, and care, as well as a syndemic approach that addresses HIV alongside associated conditions. The latter will be supported through bhhs's collaborations with the bureau of public health clinics, bureau of tuberculosis control, bureau of alcohol & drug use prevention, care & treatment, and the public health laboratory. Bhhs's longstanding partnerships with a diverse set of advisory bodies and community stakeholders, including the NYC HIV planning group and HIV health and human services planning council of new york, will inform the development and implementation of programmatic and policy activities. Throughout NYC's PS20-0047 program, activities and resource allocation will be focused on meeting the needs and improving outcomes among communities most affected by HIV in NYC.