World AIDS Day: Driving the Conversation Around PrEP
Amida Care, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, and The LGBT Community Center (The Center) hosted a community event and concurrent webinar titled “Get Schooled on PrEP: Know the ABCs” on November 30, the eve of World AIDS Day. Held at The Center, the event featured the debut of Callen-Lorde’s groundbreaking new “PrEP 101” video series. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a treatment regimen that works to prevent HIV-negative individuals from becoming infected.
“PrEP is a critical component of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Blueprint to End the AIDS Epidemic in New York State by 2020, which Amida Care is proud to support,” said Doug Wirth, President and CEO of Amida Care. “By helping populations at greater risk of infection—such as young men having sex with men (MSM) of color and transgender individuals—to access information and resources on PrEP, we aim to help prevent and ultimately eradicate new HIV infections.”
A key feature of the event was a panel discussion with five panelists—including a current PrEP user and medical provider—that offered professional and personal insight into PrEP and how it serves as a highly effective, groundbreaking HIV prevention tool. The discussion, broadcast live via webinar and moderated by Andrew Seaman, Senior Medical Journalist at Reuters Health, covered the basics of PrEP and beyond—its effectiveness, who should take it, the need for access, and other issues. The premiere screening of Callen-Lorde’s engaging “PrEP 101” video series brought the importance of PrEP to life, using humor to empower attendees and viewers with the information they need to consider whether PrEP is right for them or those they serve.
To view the PrEP 101 video series and webinar recording or to download Amida Care’s brochure “Support PrEP,” which includes valuable information and resources for providers, please visitwww.amidacareny.org/es/prepABCS.
Amida Care also co-sponsored a dinner and discussion on PrEP in October with Mt. Sinai Institute for Advanced Medicine and the New York State Department of Health Clinical Education Initiative (CEI). Nationally known HIV specialist Dr. Rona Vail of Callen-Lorde was the featured speaker.
State and City Commit Additional Funding for End the AIDS Epidemic Initiative
Amida Care is also part of the End AIDS 2020 coalition of over 60 AIDS service and community-based organizations, medical providers, and elected officials that co-sponsored a World AIDS Day event on Dec. 1 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. At the event, NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his pledge to seek $200 million in additional state funding for people living with HIV/AIDS. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his commitment of $23 million a year to combat HIV/AIDS and expand access to PrEP, and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Health Committee Chair Corey Johnson of the New York City Council also highlighted their recent announcement of $6.6 million in funding for HIV prevention.