The AIDS Institute is pleased to announce a new statewide media campaign to promote HIV testing.
The campaign message is:
Worst HIV Status: Unknown
Not testing leaves you in the dark. Testing puts you in control.
The campaign includes materials in English and Spanish. Key messages encourage people to talk with their health care provider about HIV testing and the campaign includes a link to the CDC HIV testing locator (https://gettested.cdc.gov/) to help people find community-based testing options.
This campaign, developed in conjunction with Better World Advertising, will begin sometime in December or January and will feature the following:
Various digital ads and use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google ads and others
Convenience store, hair/nail salon and bar ads
Transit ads, including bus shelters and subway ads
Other media
The campaign website, which is now active, is www.hivtestny.org. The Spanish language website can be accessed by clicking on En Espanol at the top of the site.
In case you missed this week’s big news from Albany, Gov. Cuomo announced that estimates of new HIV infections for 2014 show a decrease of 41% from 2006. Estimated new HIV infections were fewer than 2,500 for the first time. The estimated HIV incidence rate (that is, the rate of people living with HIV, per 10,000 residents) fell 43% since 2006.
New estimates also report that 123,000 New Yorkers live with HIV, as of the end of 2014. About 10,000 do not yet know they are HIV-positive (8%). While this is good news overall, the report also estimates that only 62% of HIVers are virally suppressed (they have an undetectable viral load) and are, theoretically, incapable of infecting others. NYS would like to increase this percentage while continuing to decrease new infections to less than 750 per year by 2020.
Gov. Cuomo also announced an additional $4 million in funding to spread awareness of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). The NYS Department of Health unveiled new videos to educate the public about PrEP and a new website, PrEPforSex.org.
At long last, thanks to our relatively new CQI/Data/Grants Department*, you can check out all our programs and services in one handy graphic. Visit our new “Programs at a Glance” page for a look! We invite you to explore all our programs on their specific pages, which you’ll find under the “Services Offered” tab on this site.
If you have a question about any of our programs, call us at (914) 345-8888 or your nearest HVCS office.
*These functions have been around for a while, but they’re now consolidated in one brand-new department overseen by Adie Shore.
Infectious syphilis is increasing in New York State, with a 13% increase in New York City and a 44% increase in upstate New York between 2013 and 2014. In many areas, the number of cases has more than doubled in this period. The highest burden of cases is seen in New York City and surrounding counties (which would include the Hudson Valley). Cases are mainly among males, especially gay men and men who have sex with men.
We encourage everyone to be aware of the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of syphilis. Having unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, or a new sex partner can all increase the risk of syphilis infection, as well as other STI’s and HIV.To learn more about syphilis, visit our RPI team or http://bit.ly/NYSDOHSyph. Call (845) 471-0707 x12 to schedule a test, or stop in at one of our testing events. You can also check out the basics on our website.
Webinar: Prevention Strategies and HIV Positive Clients
During this 2 hour webinar we will discuss strategies to help people living with HIV achieve behavioral changes that can prevent negative health outcomes for themselves and avoid transmission to others.
This Webinar will allow participants to:
Define “primary” and “secondary” prevention in HIV;
Explore current “Best Practices” in Prevention with HIV-Positive clients presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
Examine the growing role of HIV treatment in the prevention of HIV transmission;
Discuss the importance of provider client relationship in addressing prevention issues with their HIV positive clients;
Review specific strategies for working with special populations; and
Examine prevention resources and be able to make referrals for prevention services.
Prerequisite: None Audience: Health and human service care providers, particularly those who work directly with HIV-positive clients.
All interested community members and service providers are welcome to attend. Complimentary lunch provided. Please RSVP for either session to Anthony at (914) 785-8277 or via email.
All interested community members and service providers are welcome to attend. Complimentary lunch provided. Please RSVP for either session to Anthony at (914) 785-8277 or via email.
The AIDS Institute is pleased to announce a new statewide media campaign to promote HIV testing.
