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2005 NYS Legislative Agenda
In the absence of a cure or preventive vaccine for AIDS, our best
hope of stemming the epidemic lies in preventing new HIV infections.
GMHC urges creation of programs that effectively stop the spread
of HIV and continued support of programs that have proven to work.
We continue to see an increase in new HIV infections in the United
States, particularly in women, especially women of color and in
men who have sex with men, particularly men of color. At the same
time, the CDC has shifted priority away from primary prevention
methods and toward secondary prevention (prevention for those already
HIV+) leaving behind thousands of New Yorkers at risk of getting
HIV. The state must step up to the plate, and ensure the continuation
of vital community-based prevention education and counseling to
New Yorkers in communities hardest hit by this disease.
Recently, two local cases of a rare STD called LGV — lymphogranuloma
venereum — a form of Chlamydia, have been diagnosed in New York
City. As well, the New York City Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene have reported a case of HIV infection with an unusual combination
of multi-drug resistance and rapid onset of AIDS in one individual
in New York City. While much is still to be determined about the
medical implications of the case it is clear that prevention, as
well as treatment adherence and testing continue to be the most
critical and powerful weapons to fight the AIDS epidemic. These
new cases clearly underscore the need for continued outreach and
stepped up funding for HIV Prevention.
GMHC urges $3.5 million in new state funding for primary prevention,
which should be targeted to those most at risk for HIV infection:
Men who have Sex with Men, particularly young men of color; women,
particularly women of color; substance users and prison releasees.
GMHC supports the AIDS Advisory Council's recommendations to ensure
continued success of the Expanded Syringe Access Program, which
has been an effective public health initiative. Injection Drug
Use (IDU) is associated with more than 50% of newly diagnosed AIDS
cases in New York. Harm reduction programs have been shown to dramatically
reduce new IDU-related HIV infections. GMHC urges the state to
continue to show its commitment to harm reduction programs and
put additional resources toward new syringe exchange programs as
well as harm reduction programs serving high-risk non-injecting
substance users.
GMHC will continue to encourage NYS DOH to break out newly collected
HIV surveillance data. In order for this information to inform
our prevention work and facilitate the effective use of funds,
the data must be released more quickly, include transmission information
and spell out trends. This will help ensure the most valuable and
updated prevention strategies can be developed.
GMHC will continue to work with NYS DOH, Better World Advertising,
community leaders and people living with HIV/AIDS on the New York
wing of the
HIV STOPS WITH ME campaign, an innovative prevention
and awareness effort that targets HIV-positive individuals. HIV
STOPS WITH ME promotes responsibility and self-esteem in messages
carried by the real voices of people living with the virus.
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© 2005 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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