Health Department Celebrates Campaign to End HIV Epidemic

168795642482365289 768x550NEW ORLEANS – Ryan White Services and Resources, a division of the New Orleans Health Department and regional advocate for public health, is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the “Bounce to Zero” campaign to end the HIV epidemic in New Orleans.

“This milestone represents a year of dedicated efforts, community engagement and significant progress towards the ultimate goal of eradicating the HIV epidemic in our city,” said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the New Orleans Health Department, in a press release.

Avegno and her team credit the campaign for increased awareness, expanded test access, community engagement, strategic partnerships and streamlined access to care. 

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New Orleans has consistently remained in the top three U.S. cities with the highest rates of new infections per capita—following Miami and Baton Rouge.

“For over a decade, New Orleans has been in the top three for cities with the highest HIV infection rates,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Now, we are a national leader in creating dramatic improvements in testing, treatment, and battling the cruel stigma people living with HIV experience. These successes and changes are saving lives, and we will continue doing our part to meet the needs of our people while improving the health and well-being of our community.”

RWSR will remain focused on outreach efforts and education initiatives.

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“Together, we can build on this first year’s momentum and make even greater strides towards a New Orleans with zero new HIV infections,” said Vatsana Chanthala, director of RWSR. “Please go to BounceToZrero.com. You can help us to end the HIV epidemic in our community. Pledge your support to oppose stigma and discrimination.”

The Pledge can be found and signed at https://bouncetozero.com/pledge/. The website also centralizes information on HIV, including where to find testing, primary care, and supportive services in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, and St. Tammany parishes.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, 8,642 people are living with HIV in the New Orleans metro area, which represents 38% of the State’s HIV cases. Nationwide, approximately 1.2 million people are living with HIV.

An estimated 38,000 Americans are newly diagnosed each year. While the number of new inflections dropped by 73% between 1984 and 2019, the department said progress to further reduce those numbers has stalled. Without intervention, nearly 400,000 more Americans will be newly diagnosed over 10 years, despite the availability of tools to prevent transmissions. Bounce to Zero organizers aim to contribute to a drop in those numbers.

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