DOH ANNOUNCES DECREASE IN HIV CASES AMONG BLACKS

--Efforts of the many heroic community based programs result in a Phenomenal Decrease--

Tallahassee - Today, June 17, 2005,Florida Department of Health (DOH) Secretary John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., announced a 30 percent decrease over the past six years of HIV cases among blacks in Florida. HIV cases in Florida have dropped 24 percent among black men and 36 percent among black women. DOH strives to cut the new HIV infection rate among blacks by half in the next few years.

“DOH is fervently working to close the gap between adequate health and Florida’s minority populations,” said Agwunobi. “The department attributes this success to our HIV prevention measures and efforts to reduce barriers to early diagnosis and increase access to quality care and treatment for all Floridians.”

Florida has also seen an 84 percent decrease in mother-to-child HIV cases among blacks - from 43 in 1998 to seven in 2004. There have been no reported cases of mother-to-child HIV cases so far this year. Recently, Governor Jeb Bush signed CS/CS/SB 186 - a bill that makes the HIV testing of pregnant women a routine part of obstetrical care. This legislation also makes HIV infection reporting consistent with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and revises criteria for the release of positive preliminary HIV test results.

Florida has one of the largest HIV testing programs in the US with nearly 300,000 tests performed last year. Testing is only part of DOH‘s comprehensive prevention efforts. Other measures include:

• Establishing HIV testing as a routine part of medical care;
• Expanding the state’s voluntary rapid testing program:
• Launching the “We Make the Change HIV/AIDS” media campaign aimed at increasing awareness in minority populations;
• Commencing over 120 contracts with organizations, including community- and faith-based groups, that provide education, counseling, support and other preventive services to Florida’s minorities;
• Providing the “Closing the Gap” grant program to aid organizations in efforts to improve health outcomes for Florida’s minorities; and
• Establishing and supporting programs such as the Targeted Outreach for Pregnant Women Act and Black Leadership and Multicultural Conferences on HIV/AIDS.
  

However, despite DOH’s many successes, Florida has seen an increase in reported HIV cases among Caucasian and Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM). New data presented at the recent CDC National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta shows similar increases have occurred throughout the country. Factors attributing to this increasing trend may include: usage of crystal meth and other club drugs, seeking relationships via the Internet, and/or optimism about treatment and complacency towards prevention. DOH is committed to establishing effective preventive measures to subside this current trend.

For more information visit the DOH Web site at http://www.doh.state.fl.us and select AIDS/HIV from the drop box.