HIV/STDs

STD and HIV infection in Louisiana require responsive interventions to decrease new infections, slow HIV disease progression, increase individual awareness of STD and HIV status, and help ensure access to medical care for persons who have HIV or need treatment for an STD. The 2013 STD/HIV Program Report provides a thorough surveillance profile, as well as descriptions of the state’s prevention, counseling and testing, care, services, housing, and evaluation programs. While many challenges remain, the report highlights several areas of progress. This report reflects data through the end of the 2013 calendar year and is the most recent report available as of 2015.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), STD/HIV Program, is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified proposers to provide pharmacy benefits management services through a comprehensive network of pharmacies, to eligible clients residing in all 64 parishes in Louisiana.

Louisiana, including Caddo Parish, consistently experiences some of the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States. The most recent studies by the CDC, 2015 data, show Louisiana has the highest rate in the nation for primary and secondary syphilis and the highest gonorrhea rate. Further, among the top 70 counties/parishes in the U.S., Caddo is ranked 59.

The rate of babies born with syphilis is rising in Louisiana, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC found the rate of congenital syphilis rose by 6% nationwide between 2014 and 2015. Director of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases for the Office of Public Health, Dr. DeAnn Gruber, says the problem is even worse in Louisiana.

David Armstead, HIV program monitor with the Louisiana Department of Health Office of Public Health, has been named as one of the Top 100 people in the nation working to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Armstead was recognized for his volunteer outreach efforts in the New Orleans area where he also serves as chair of the New Orleans Regional AIDS Planning Council.

In order to lower Louisiana’s rate of new HIV infections, DeAnn Gruber, STD/HIV program director with the Louisiana Office of Public Health, joined researchers from Emory University to share new information that analyzes the rates of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) both nationwide and in Louisiana.

This report was prepared for the Louisiana HIV/AIDS Program (HAP) of the Office of Public Health within the Department of Health and Hospitals. The purpose of this needs assessment is to gain understanding of the current care service needs of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) throughout Louisiana and within each of the nine administrative regions. In particular, the assessment aims to provide an accurate estimate of the extent of PLWHA’s unmet primary care and HIV-related support service needs, their experiences in accessing those services, the perceived barriers to those services, and some insight into their reported knowledge of those services. Our aim in constructing this statewide assessment was to collect opinions, perceptions, and experiences from a group of people that is as representative of people living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana as is possible.

Louisiana STD/HIV Quarterly Reports presented by Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, STD/HIV Program.

The HIV epidemic continues to have a significant impact on the public health of Louisiana. Louisiana Statistical information related to HIV/AIDS are available here.

The Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals, Office of Public Health issues this Request for Information (RFI) with the intent to determine interested and qualified vendors for providing the following activities related to the prevention of STD and HIV infections, the provision of services for HIV-infected persons, as well as clinical services and treatment for persons infected with syphilis, chlamydia and/or gonorrhea, and to monitor the STD and HIV epidemics over time.