Project Abstract Summary
Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-PS-24-0047
CFDA(s): 93.940
Applicant Name: Hawaii Department of Health
Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: High-Impact HIV Prevention and Surveillance Programs for Hawaii Department of Health
Project Abstract (4000 characters or less):
The Hawaii State Department of Health (Hawaii DOH), Harm Reduction Services Branch (HRSB) is requesting funds to further improve Hawaii’s HIV system and implement interventions that encompass the whole person and address barriers to prevention and care, such as stigma and social determinants of health.
In 2021, 2,589 people in Hawaii were estimated to be living with HIV . It is estimated that 89.1% of these individuals know their HIV status while 10.9% do not. Seventy-three individuals were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2021. Of these, 74.0% were linked to HIV medical care within 1 month and 80.8% within 3 months. Among those diagnosed prior to 2021 (aged 13 years or older and resided in Hawaii at year-end 2021), 91.8% received HIV medical care in 2021, and 84.3% were virally suppressed.
Hawaii DOH proposes to use the High-Impact HIV Prevention and Surveillance Program funding to implement the six core strategies listed below.
• Strategy 1: Increase knowledge of status to 95% by ensuring all people with HIV receive a diagnosis as early as possible
• Strategy 2: Implement a comprehensive approach to treat people with diagnosed HIV infection rapidly (increase linkage to care up to 95%) and to achieve viral suppression up to 95%.
• Strategy 3: Prevent new HIV transmission, by increasing PrEP coverage to 50% of estimated people with indications for PrEP, increasing PEP services, and supporting HIV prevention, including prevention of perinatal transmission, harm reduction and syringe services program (SSP) efforts.
• Strategy 4: Respond quickly to HIV clusters and outbreaks to address gaps and inequities in services for communities who need them.
• Strategy 5. Conduct HIV surveillance activities as described in the Technical Guidance (TG) for HIV surveillance programs to ensure accurate, timely, complete, and actionable data.
• Strategy 6: Support community engagement and HIV planning.
Each strategy aligns with the Hawaii to Zero: The Plan to End HIV in Hawaii along with the 2022-2026 Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan. By the end of the funding period, anticipated outcomes include:
• Increased knowledge of HIV status
• Decreased Stage 3 HIV diagnoses
• Increased receipt of HIV medical care among people with diagnosed HIV infection
• Increased HIV viral suppression among people with diagnosed HIV infection
• Increased awareness of HIV and decreased stigma
• Increased use of SSPs
• Improved response to HIV clusters and outbreaks at individual, network, and system levels to reduce transmission and improve care and prevention
• Improved use of HIV surveillance data to identify the populations affected by relevant syndemics and HIV-related health disparities
• Improved electronic data exchange capacity
• Improved visualization of HIV surveillance data for public health action
• Sustained community partnerships to inform strategic planning and implementation
This funding will help to sustain and improve HIV prevention and surveillance efforts across the state. It will also ensure services can be provided to those who may experience a higher burden of HIV and takes a whole-person and syndemic approach to prevention and care.