In a recent proclamation by Republican Missouri Governor Michael L. Parson, the month of April was designated HIV Awareness Month. He is the first governor to issue a proclamation acknowledging the national "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America." The Missouri proclamation references testing (diagnosis), treatment and prevention.
The Ending the HIV Epidemic ("EHE") plan - announced in 2019 - was developed by agencies across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Offices of Infectious Disease). EHE provided 57 geographic focus areas where HIV transmission occurs at a high rate, and Missouri is one of only seven entire states that is a jurisdiction of focus. The goal of the EHE is to reduce new HIV infections by 75% by 2025 and by at least 90% by 2030 by focusing on four pillars: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outbreak response by working with programs, resources and the infrastructure of HHS agencies and offices nationwide (Offices of Infectious Disease).
Nationally, HIV/AIDS Awareness Month is usually recognized in December, but Governor Parson chose to hold the month of recognition in April. Missouri has 447 annual HIV diagnoses as of 2018 and estimates 12,529 total people living with diagnosed HIV. However, only 87% have knowledge of their HIV status, leaving many more individuals who may be living with the virus and completely unaware (CDC).
When left undiagnosed, HIV positive individuals can transmit to others unknowingly and the virus may progress within their own bodies to the point of serious consequences. Governor Parson addresses diagnosis in his proclamation as one of the four pillars vital to addressing the HIV epidemic in America.
A resolution in support of the HIV Viral Load Suppression in Improving Health Outcomes and Reducing Transmission was adopted by many members of the National Lieutenant Governors Association ("NLGA") in March of 2019. State governors who sponsored the resolution included Wisconsin, Hawaii, Delaware, Missouri, Virgin Islands, Kansas and Vermont.
The sponsorship of Missouri’s Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe may have helped to push the Missouri Governor’s recent proclamation to light and stressed the importance of HIV awareness. The NLGA resolution reads, in part:
“Whereas, over 1.2 million people living in the United States are infected with HIV, and one in eight is unaware of the infection… Whereas, viral load suppression not only improves individual health, but it also reduces HIV transmission on a population level.” (2019, March)
By addressing the HIV epidemic on a state level and national level, progress will begin to accelerate in each state. Missouri’s Governor has set a great example to other states on how to begin addressing the HIV Epidemic and bring awareness to a virus that had such a “taboo” stigma surrounding it for many years. Many advocates believe this proclamation will save lives and help de-stigmatize HIV for those who still may hold certain negative views around the virus and those who are living with it.
Since 1981, more than 700,000 Americans have lost their battle to HIV (Offices of Infectious Diseases). While the numbers of infections and deaths have declined over the years with the increase of HIV education, the issue remains: those who may spread the virus without knowledge. I truly believe that both the Missouri and National plan to stop the spread of HIV and better educate the general public on the virus will help to destigmatize the disease and help lower the number of cases nationwide.
References:
- Geographic Priorities. (2020, May 21). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/endhiv/priorities.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https://www.cdc.gov/endhiv/data.html
- Office of Infectious Disease. (2020, May 8). Overview. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/ending-the-hiv-epidemic/overview
- Resolution In Support of HIV Viral Load Suppression in Improving Health Outcomes and Reducing Transmission. (2019, March). Retrieved from https://nlga.us/wp-content/uploads/Resolution-In-Support-of-HIV-Viral-Load-Suppression-in-Improving-Health-Outcomes-and-Reducing-Transmission-2.pdf
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