In July, Denver was among the first cities in North America to reach the United Nations 90-90-90 target of having 90 percent of people living with HIV know their HIV status. Today, Denver has achieved a second target of having 90 percent of those in HIV care with suppressed viral loads.
The achievement comes just ahead of tomorrow’s World AIDS Day, which Mayor Hancock has proclaimed as “World AIDS Day in Denver.”
“I
can’t think of a better way to mark World AIDS Day than with this
phenomenal progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” Mayor Hancock said.
“Denver has one of the most comprehensive networks supporting people
living with HIV, and as a community, we are changing the future of those
living with HIV/AIDS.”
Denver
was the fourth North American City to join the Fast-Track Cities
initiative when it signed on in August 2015. Progress for all
participating cities is available on the Fast-Track Cities website.
“Denver’s
final target is having 90 percent of people living with HIV be in
care,” said Sarah Rowan, MD, director of HIV and Viral Hepatitis
Prevention at Denver Public Health. “To achieve this, Denver Public
Health will launch a program in 2017 to encourage patients who haven’t
been seen in clinic for more than a year to reengage in care.”
The
Paris Declaration Agreement was launched in Paris on World AIDS Day in
2014 by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC),
the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the United
Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), as part of an effort
to dramatically reduce new HIV infections and future AIDS-related deaths
through increasing testing, treatment and education.
In signing the Paris Declaration, Denver agreed to meet the following targets by 2020:
· 90% of people living with HIV know their HIV status.
· 90% of people who are HIV-positive are in care.
· 90% of people who are in care have suppressed viral loads.
· Zero discrimination, including stigma.
Denver’s
Office of HIV Resources, Denver’s HIV Resources Planning Council,
Denver Public Health, and the Ryan White Part A funded service providers
work collaboratively to offer HIV testing and prevention services,
expand HIV care and adherence to treatment, and to end discrimination
through expanded access to care and support services, education and
public information campaigns.
