November 29, 2018 Louisiana Department of Health joins World HIV/AIDS Day events

- This week, health and community organizations around the state will join with the Louisiana Department of Health to shed light on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Louisiana as part of NOLA HIV/AIDS Awareness Week and World AIDS Day. Events will be held from November 30 through December 1 throughout the state to make an effort to remove the stigma surrounding these diseases and to slow the epidemic in Louisiana by sharing education about resources for testing and treatment. 

Louisiana ranks third in the nation for the highest HIV case rates. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are two of the top three cities for new cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. In 2017, there were 21,438 Louisianans living with HIV and over half have had a prior AIDS diagnosis.

“Circumstances such as incarceration, poverty and under-education prevent people from getting tested and, if need be, getting the care they need to live a quality, healthy life with HIV” said Dr. Rebekah Gee, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. “Stopping the stigma about HIV is crucial for people to be open to getting tested and treated.”

Through work done by the Department, Louisiana has seen a decrease in HIV and AIDS rates and diagnoses. According to CDC data, Louisiana fell from third in HIV infection diagnosis rate in 2016 to fourth in 2017. Overall, there was a decrease of 120 cases from 2016 to 2017.

This is due in part to raising public and provider awareness to the deficiencies in screening and diagnosis rates. The Louisiana Health Hub has been redesigned into a central online location for education, locations for screening and treatment, and a directory of community partners.

As part of the state’s HIV/AIDS strategy, partners that screen and diagnose for HIV have been given additional support. The state is reducing the number of new infections by increasing awareness and accessibility of pre- and post-exposure treatments and supporting statewide condom availability.  

The New Orleans City Health Department and the New Orleans Police Department are also participating in the effort.

"Know your status. Get tested. Get into care. Everyone deserves to live a long and healthy life,” said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the City of New Orleans Health Department.

Events will be held at the following dates, times and locations:

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

Lake Charles

Alexandria

Shreveport

West Monroe

December 1 at 6 p.m.

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

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