GMHC Outlines Key Recommendations For Improving New York City's Response To HIV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Krishna Stone | 212.367.1016

New York, NY — New York City's commitment to HIV is wavering at a time when the city's residents can least afford it.  Even as HIV infections continue to increase among our city's youth, the Bloomberg administration has, over the last three years, significantly cut funding for HIV services.  Today, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) released its 2010-2011 New York City Policy Agenda, and called for a reinvigorated response to help meet the challenges of a changing epidemic.

GMHC's city policy priorities include: effective, age appropriate, comprehensive sex education in all New York City schools; promotion of affirming environments for youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth; adequately funding HIV prevention, treatment and services; addressing the needs of people over fifty living with HIV/AIDS; and addressing the social and economic factors that contribute to HIV infection among women, youth and men.

"GMHC strongly urges the city government to re-commit to fighting HIV by enacting recommendations laid out in this policy agenda," said Janet Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer of GMHC.  "These recommendations spell out important steps that will avert new infections and effectively provide support to those already living with HIV."

According to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), as of 2008, 105,633 persons were living with HIV in the city.  This represents the vast majority of cases in New York State.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York City also has the second highest AIDS case rate in the U.S., and the rate is three times higher than the national average.

And while, according to DOHMH, the number of new diagnoses of HIV has generally decreased since 2004, some troubling trends have emerged. African Americans and gay and bisexual men continue to represent the two groups most affected in New York City.  As reported by the CDC, men who have sex with men comprise around 2% of the total population in the U.S., but make up 42% of all new HIV diagnoses in New York City.

Racial and ethnic minorities also comprise an increasing proportion of HIV diagnoses.  In New York City, over 80% of all new diagnoses occur among African Americans and Hispanics.  African American men comprise 45% of all new diagnoses among men, and African American women comprise 67% of all new diagnoses among women in New York City. Immigrants and older adults are more likely to be diagnosed late, and to be dually diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.

In 2008 alone, DOHMH reported that 3,809 New Yorkers found out that they are living with HIV.  A 2006 study on the cost effectiveness of HIV prevention found that, each case of HIV prevented could save $303,100 in lifetime medical costs for HIV medical care by experienced HIV care providers. Using this estimate, if just these cases were prevented, New York City could have saved $1.15 billion in future costs to care for these cases.

"The drastic cuts proposed in the Mayor's budget are not sustainable," added Weinberg. "We urge the City Council to protect critically needed services for all New York City residents affected by HIV and AIDS."

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GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS.  We provide prevention and care services to men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City.  We advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.