"When We Know Better, We Do Better"

ATLANTA, Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the nation observes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7, 2015, the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness is poised to launch a series of new initiatives and campaigns designed to better screen residents for HIV, and link and retain those who test positive in care, and help those at high risk for HIV infection access High Impact Prevention, including medication to prevent HIV known as PrEP.

On Friday, February 6, 2015, The Fulton County department of health and wellness, BTAN Atlanta, and the Black AIDS Institute will host "When We Know Better, We Do Better," a town hall meeting to unveil a new partnership with Greater Than AIDS to provide critical information about HIV prevention and treatment to greater Atlanta, and release data from a new study by the Black AIDS Institute, the Latino Commission on AIDS, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), Johns Hopkins University- Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP on the state of HIV/AIDS Treatment literacy in the HIV/AIDS non-medical workforce.

In December, the department appointed Leisha McKinley-Beach, the new HIV prevention administrator.  "We have a lot of work to do in this community," says Ms. McKinley-Beach. "And, we are prepared to do it.  I know we can end the AIDS epidemic in our community, if we fully engage people living with HIV/AIDS, those most at risk for infection, and those working on the frontline of the battle with the knowledge and skills to get the job done."

At the town hall meeting the department will introduce five new Greater Than AIDS physician ambassadors to promote treatment and prevention, including pre-exposure prophylaxis, and announcing a series of community engagement sessions. Over the next few months, the department will focus on mobilizing local communities to develop strategies to raise the science and treatment knowledge in Fulton and DeKalb Counties and build integrated systems to increase HIV testing, linkage to care, and retention in care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and help people at high risk of infection access High Impact Prevention including pre-exposure prophylaxis, a daily pill to prevent HIV known as "PrEP."

"All of the biomedical interventions in the world will not end the AIDS epidemic in this country unless the people on the front line understand them, believe in them, and know how to use them," says Phill Wilson, President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute and one of the principal researchers of the U.S. HIV Workforce Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Survey.

There have been major developments in both treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. in recent years. Use of these treatments can suppress the viral load in a person living with HIV/AIDS, which reduces the risk of passing the virus to others by up to 96%.  Researchers also believe that when used properly, new pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication can reduce acquisition of HIV by more than 90%.

But even with these new advances, U.S. prevention efforts appear to be stalled. There are still some 50,000 new infections occurring per year, nearly half of them are Black, and less than 30% of people living with HIV/AIDS in the US have their disease under control. This study assessed the HIV/AIDS science and treatment knowledge of more than 3,600 non-medical respondents from 48 states and U.S. territories.

The study found that the majority of the non-medical HIV/AIDS workforce is unfamiliar with the new bio-medical interventions and they are insufficiently knowledgeable about how and when they should be used. The average respondent scored only 63% overall on the knowledge questions, which is a "D" in an academic setting.

"We are leaving our most valuable and effective resource behind," said Wilson. "We have a large infrastructure of committed, passionate, capable folks working in AIDS service organizations, community based organizations, and health departments ready to finish this task, but they can't do it unless they have the necessary tools, knowledge and skills to get the job done."

The afternoon program will include a panel discussion on PrEP with Dr. Dawn Smith (CDC), Blake Rowley (National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors), Darwin Thompson (NAESM), Jose Rodriguez-Diaz (AID Atlanta), and an opportunity for participants to make recommendations on how to move forward in Fulton County.  Other Speakers for the day include, Dr. Patrice Harris (Health Director, Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness), Dr. Daniel VanderEnde  (Medical Program Administrator, Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness), Dr. David Holland (Emory University), Dr. Melanie Thompson (founder of the AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta), and Phill Wilson (President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute).

"We have to work on this together," says Dr. Patrice Harris. "Government can't do it alone.  We need everyone involved.  We need the faith community. We need our CBOs.  We need our providers.  It's an all in approach.  We're here.  There's hope.  We're not giving up. Together, we are Greater than AIDS."

#knowBetterDoBetter

SOURCE Black AIDS Institute

Related Links

http://www.blackaids.org