Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
Over a five-year period beginning August 1, 2020, Philadelphia proposes to implement PS20-2010 Component A and Component B through a partnership between the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) AIDS Activities Coordinating Office (AACO) and the PDPH Division of Disease Control’s (DDC). Component A core activities will complement existing HIV prevention and care resources such as PS18-1802 and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), and Component C activities will scale-up HIV prevention services in Philadelphia’s STD Clinic. Concurrent implementation of both components is crucial to the success of Philadelphia’s Ending the HIV Epidemic Plan. Currently, more than 17,000 people are living with HIV in Philadelphia of whom an estimated 12% are unaware of their status. An estimated 40% of HIV transmissions in Philadelphia in 2018 were accounted for by persons unaware of their HIV infection. PDPH proposes PS20-2010 Component A and Component C strategies and activities to support ending the HIV epidemic (EHE) in Philadelphia by reducing new HIV infections by 75% in by 2025 and by 90% by 2030. PDPH is ideally positioned to successfully implement the proposed dual-component approach. For over 30 years, Philadelphia has conducted high impact HIV prevention and high-quality HIV care and planning activities in collaboration with the communities most impacted by HIV. Under Component A, PDPH proposes a wide range of activities that are needed to accomplish EHE plan goals. The diagnosis strategy includes HIV testing in urgent care centers, routine HIV screening in high priority health systems, city-wide HIV testing and PrEP medical trainee program, pharmacy-based testing, HIV self-testing, increased testing frequency promotion for providers and populations of focus. The treat strategy includes establishment of a PDPH-based field services unit to provide result notifications for HIV testing and linkage to care, modernization of PDPH’s AACO Health Information Helpline, immediate initiation of ART, Data2Care activities, and provider-driven re-engagement in care activities. The bio-medical prevention strategy includes peer-driven PrEP promotion activities, establishment of a PDPH-based AACO Health Equity Coordinator, establishment of sexual health hubs, establishment of nPEP Centers of Excellence, acquisition and use of health and wellness vending machines, and integration of hepatitis C testing in sexual health hubs. The respond strategy includes additional case surveillance capacity, establishment of a local EHE dashboard, additional epidemiology staff and community engagement activities. Under Component C, PDPH proposes a significant scaling up of HIV prevention services in Philadelphia’s STD specialty clinic including identifying previously undiagnosed cases of HIV, linking out of care PLWH to care, immediate initiation of ART, a significant expansion of PrEP and nPEP services, and ongoing implementation of CDC’s Recommendations for Providing Quality Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Services. A detailed plan to scale up the STD clinic will be developed in partnership with CDC and the Prevention Training Center at Johns Hopkins based on an initial clinical assessment and gap analysis supplemented by additional analysis of service delivery and baseline data. The project will also further develop the STD clinic’s current community partnerships and clinical collaborations.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
