Wednesday, May 1, 2024
5/1/2024
For over 35 years, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has affected millions throughout the United States. It is estimated that 6,339 people in Oklahoma are living with HIV or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as of the end of 2018. In recent years, deaths among persons living with HIV have declined, while the number of people living with HIV has increased, as shown in the graph below. In 2018, 273 HIV cases were newly diagnosed in Oklahoma. Of these cases, 21.2% (58) were also diagnosed with AIDS in 2018. Through the support of the Integrated HIV Programs for Health Departments to Support Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (EtHE), Oklahoma will continue high impact education, prevention, surveillance, response, and care efforts to reduce new infections and achieve and sustain viral suppression. To reach this goal, we will implement behavioral strategies, such as promotion and education on the use of condoms, self-administered, at home HIV test kits, and reduction in number of partners to reduce the risk of HIV infection. These efforts supplement prevention efforts among persons living with HIV to help prevent new HIV infections, as well as other sexually transmitted infections not protected by ART. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective strategy that can reduce the number of new HIV infections when supported by behavioral and structural strategies. Encouraging medical providers to prescribe PrEP as well as treating persons diagnosed with uncomplicated HIV infections is an area of focus for the Oklahoma HIV Prevention Program. Educating providers that the use of PrEP is a scientifically-proven, cost-effective, and scalable structural, behavioral, and biomedical intervention is key in making PrEP a successful intervention. Lastly, ensuring reporting by Oklahoma healthcare providers and laboratories of all mandated data is imperative to monitoring of surveillance and prevention efforts.
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).
