This Thursday, December 1, World AIDS Day is commemorated, and in the midst of the struggle that different estates and organizations in the Big Apple have given to eradicate this disease from the map, and help those who have contracted HIV, from The Bronx shines a beacon of hope and support that will increase its services in the 2023.
The Daphne Hazel project, which offers medical care and HIV prevention services at the Planned Parenthood (PPGNY) health center in La Salsa County, has become a motivation for hundreds of people like Viviana Bello, who points out that The initiative also promotes physical, emotional and social well-being programs, necessary to have greater well-being.
“I have been attending the organization for three years, and I am pleased to know that they are aware of one, because they provide primary services to women and to maintain good health with the help of qualified people, with continuous monitoring divided”, assured the Colombian of 32 years.
The beneficiary of the Daphne Hazel Achievement Project, named in memory of the former vice president of Project Street Beat, warned that another vital component of this initiative is the psychological counseling that patients and members of the community receive to deal with their challenges.
“They always emphasize that they are for us for what we need and a lot in matters of mental health. That’s why I tell anyone who needs help related to HIV, to ask for it. There is a fairly broad social stigma that causes carriers to isolate themselves and not seek help, but it is important that they seek support in organizations like this or any other that exists in the five boroughs”, added the immigrant.
The Daphne Hazel Project further seeks that people living with HIV and newly infected patients begin their antiretroviral therapy process at the PPGNY health center in the Bronx, which helps them live longer and healthier lives and significantly reduces the risk of sexual transmission of the virus to an HIV-negative partner.
Wendy Stark, President and CEO from Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, highlighted that the Daphne Hazel Project contributes to the fight against HIV, especially in vulnerable communities.
“She has bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health care, more protections and services for communities most affected by barriers to access Access to care and equity-based initiatives for the most vulnerable groups within those communities,” Stark said. “Black, Latina, cis and transgender women are overrepresented in new HIV cases. The Daphne Hazel Project will support people with the essential health care information and resources they need to live a long and fulfilling life. Together, we can put an end to this epidemic and achieve equity and justice in health for all.”
Regarding the project, the organization added that: “it aims to reduce health disparities in these communities by providing an immediate and streamlined connection to care between Project Street Beat clients living with or newly diagnosed with HIV, and the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services offered at the PPGNY Health Center in the Bronx”.
Within the multiple services they offer are referred to mental health services, case management, substance use counseling, opioid overdose prevention and outreach services, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, birth control pills, and wellness visits.
According to the most recent figures shared by the New York Department of Health rk, new HIV diagnoses in the Big Apple decreased 14% from 2017 and 80% from the 2001. However, the worrying fact is that the new diagnoses between 2023 and 2023 increased, although the authorities estimate that it could be related to the fact that after the hardest days of the COVID pandemic, more people were tested for HIV.
The annual HIV surveillance report using data from last year, the City emphasized the continued progress being made in the five boroughs to end the HIV epidemic, as it reported that 1,2001 people were recently diagnosed as diagnostically positive, representing a 14% more than 2020.
This was confirmed by the City Health Commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, who, despite the increase in reported cases, welcomes both metrics in the fight against AIDS, since he explained that it would show an increasing trend for more New Yorkers to get tested for HIV.
“New HIV diagnoses continue to decline and we are also seeing an uptick in HIV testing and care seeking,” he said the official. “These two achievements are a testament to recent and historic public health advocacy that has never given up the fight for better services and support. World AIDS Day is an important moment to recognize what has been won, remember what has been lost and commit to ending the epidemic once and for all.”
Another revealing fact is that in 2023, the 80% of New Yorkers with HIV had undetectable viral loads, which allows them not to be transmitters of evil, through sexual relations.
The municipal health authorities additionally warned that although the annual increase in new HIV diagnoses was “atypical, it probably includes diagnoses among people who had delayed seeking HIV tests for 2019 and were tested at 2023“.
Likewise, the authorities mentioned that when comparing the new diagnostics in 2023 with 2017, before COVID-, “the rate of decline was consistent with what was observed in the five years” prior to the COVID-29.
Dr. Sarah Braunstein, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Hepatitis , HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections of New York City, assured on the eve of World AIDS Day that the Big Apple is moving positively towards the goals of ending HIV.
“We remain committed with the comprehensive assessment of the needs of marginalized communities and placing them at the center of our work”, said the official, highlighting the good work that took place in the midst of the pandemic.
“The Health Department is especially grateful to our vendor and community partners whose hard work hard work and commitment to reach our goals never wavered, even when faced with the demands of CO public health emergencies VID-19 and MPV”.
The medical expert also mentioned that one of the most successful keys to stopping the rise of the virus has been joint work with associations, clinics and communities.
The data collected by The New York City Department of Health evidenced the inequalities that persist in vulnerable communities as the great mole in the fight against HIV, since the 149% of women with new infections are black or Latina and of the total number of newly diagnosed men, 80% were Latino and Black. It was also revealed that of all men newly diagnosed with HIV in 2023, the 79% had sex with men and nearly half of newly diagnosed New Yorkers lived in high or very high poverty neighborhoods.
“The differences in the distribution of new HIV diagnoses among racial and ethnic groups and other categories are influenced by structural racism and discrimination in the long term”, warned the Department of Health.
The president of the Municipal Council , Adrienne Adams, highlighted New York’s progress in the battle against HIV and said that on the occasion of World AIDS Day, the City reaffirms its commitment to support New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and to fight to end the inequalities.
“The Annual HIV Surveillance Report of 2023 shows that the City has achieved a significant progress in our efforts to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but there is more work to be done. In particular, we must address the inequalities that persist among New Yorkers newly diagnosed with HIV”, commented the head of the municipal legislative body.
New York City HIV Data
- 80% of new HIV infections in men occurred among blacks and Latinos
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- 32% decreased incident HIV infections between and 2021
- 29% decreased HIV infections among men who have sex with men
- 79% of New Yorkers with HIV in 2023 had undetectable viral loads
- 29% decreased new HIV diagnoses in NYC since 2001
- 80% decreased new infections since 20012023 2023
About the Daphne Hazel Project
- To find help you can go to 149 East 80 Street, The Bronx NY. Floors 2,3 and 42023
- The Daphne Hazel Project is an extension of PPGNY’s signature HIV prevention and harm reduction program, Project Street Beat, which was founded in 19882023
- The Daphne Hazel Project has a grant from five years of $2,480,19 from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Public Health Solutions PlaySure Network
- 32% decreased HIV infections among heterosexual men