Photo by Ted Eytan
This morning, on World AIDS Day, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the HIV Fast-Track Cities Declaration, which outlines goals to end the world’s AIDS epidemic by 2030.
I join Mayors from across the world to end this epidemic & usher in an HIV-free generation in DC. #WorldAIDSDay pic.twitter.com/XCpKoNnDHt
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) December 1, 2015
Earlier this year, we received good news regarding the state of HIV in the District. The number of newly diagnosed and reported cases continues to decline.
According to the annual Epidemiology and Surveillance Report that was released in June, the District has seen a 59 percent decrease in cases since 2007, making it the sixth consecutive year on the decline. Further, there’s an 87 percent decrease in new HIV cases due to needle use, which Mayor Muriel Bowser attributed to the city’s needle exchange program. The report also showed that there were no babies born with HIV in 2013.
However, it did note that 2.5 percent of the District’s population—16,423 residents—is living with HIV, with blacks impacted most.
On last year’s World AIDS Day, global city leaders convened to launch The Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities pledging to achieve “90-90-90 targets” by 2020. In June, Bowser announced that D.C. would take on those goals, which she signed into writing today, “meaning 90 percent of D.C. residents with HIV will know their status, 90 percent of persons living with HIV will be in treatment, 90 percent of persons with HIV will achieve viral load suppression.” Additionally, Bowser said “the District will see a 50 percent decrease in new HIV cases.”
Signers of the declaration have committed to providing “local leadership, fostering innovation and promoting health equity” to achieve outcomes, according to the document.
Find places to get tested here.
Metro Weekly has a calendar of events to recognize World AIDS Day, including tonight’s BETTY concert at the Hamilton.
