Last week, Arizona had the honor of hosting Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to discuss his initiative to End the HIV Epidemic. During his time in Arizona, Dr. Redfield was able to learn about the efforts of many innovative organizations in Arizona serving people living with HIV/AIDS [...]
Today the Arizona Department of Health Services join all Arizonans in the recognition of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day was established in 1988 as opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and to remember those who have passed. This year, we also have [...]
Our HIV Surveillance Program has just released their 2017 Annual Report which includes data up through 2016. The number of people living with HIV in Arizona was 17,464 in 2016. This trend that has been slowly increasing over the last two decades partially due to enhanced treatments that lead to improved survival rates for people [...]
The ADHS and Maricopa County Ryan White Programs recently won a National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award in the Health category for their Ryan White Joint Application and Integrated Eligibility project. Maricopa County and the State of Arizona Ryan White Programs developed a joint application for HIV services for clients who are dually enrolled [...]
Today, our department joins organizations nationwide to observe National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. This event was established in 2013 to support young people living with HIV, promote HIV education and awareness, and encourage youth to get tested. Nationally, the CDC estimates that 51% of youth 13 to 24 who have HIV aren't aware they [...]
Last week our HIV Prevention Program, the Ryan White Part B Program, and the Ryan White Part A Program of Maricopa County presented the third annual HIV symposium. More than 260 people attended, representing state and local health departments, community-based organizations, clinical providers, community leaders, and people living with HIV. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton kicked [...]
When you work in public health, you know it’s scary to get stuck by a needle in a trashcan, bathroom or another unexpected place. While needles and syringes are used for the medical treatment of multiple conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis, diabetes, and cancer, there is always the fear that a discarded needle also carries blood [...]
Public health agencies around the world recognize World AIDS Day on Thursday, Dec. 1 to show support for people living with disease, and to remember those who have passed. The special day was established in 1988 to create an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV. More than 17,000 Arizonans are [...]
Our HIV Epidemiology Program just released their 2016 Arizona HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Annual Report, documenting HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence trends at both the state and county level throughout Arizona. In 2015, there were 17,349 Arizonans living with HIV/AIDS, of which 730 were newly infected. The number of HIV-related deaths has been decreasing from 309 deaths in [...]
Two scientific advances have provided the tools needed to end the HIV epidemic. First, for people who are not infected with HIV, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 90%. Second, people living with HIV who get into medical care, take their HIV medicine and become virally suppressed are [...]
