ADDRESSES REPORT THAT SHOWS A 7.6% RISE IN NEW HIV CASES IN 2023 COMPARED TO 2022
AMONG ALL WOMEN NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HIV, 51 PERCENT WERE BLACK, AND 39% LATINA
For 2023 NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene HIV Surveillance Data, Click Here
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Bronx, NY- On Friday, December 6th, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., outside the auditorium of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson joined the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bronx ETE (Ending the Epidemic), NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Gilead, The Bronx LGBTQIA Task Force, and others to recognize World AIDS Day and respond to data released this week by the New York City Health Department showing a 7.6% increase in new HIV cases that amount to 1,686 newly diagnosed individuals in 2023. Also called Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS is a disease of the immune system caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that destroys the CD4 T lymphocytes (CD4 cells) of the immune system, leaving those impacted vulnerable to life-threatening infections and cancers.
With the very first cases diagnosed in 1981, AIDS is responsible for 36.6 million deaths worldwide. Reaching a one-year peak of 1.9 million deaths in 2004 alone, that figure dropped to 680,000 in 2020 due to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), a treatment that suppresses the replication of HIV, allowing individuals impacted to stay healthy. Despite this medical advance, Black and Brown communities and those living in neighborhoods with high or very high-poverty zip codes at the time of their diagnosis continue to be most affected.
While data from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s 2023 HIV Surveillance Data shows that from 2014 to 2023, new HIV diagnoses in New York City decreased by 36 percent, this progress has not been experienced equitably across all races and ethnicities, gender identities, age groups, neighborhood poverty levels, and transmission categories, including in recent years. Among all people newly diagnosed with HIV in New York City in 2023, 41 percent were Black, 42 percent were Latino, 79 percent were men, 67 percent were aged 20 to 39 years, 14 percent were aged 50 years or older, and 39 percent lived in high or very high poverty ZIP codes at the time of diagnosis.
Also, in 2023, among all people newly diagnosed with HIV with a known transmission category, 69 percent were men who have sex with men (MSM), and among all men newly diagnosed with HIV with a known transmission category, 91 percent were MSM. Among all women newly diagnosed with HIV, 51 percent were Black, and 39 percent were Latina.
“In commemoration of World AIDS Day and data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, we convened a network of healthcare partners and advocates to highlight the high rates of new HIV diagnoses in our borough and ways we can collaborate to support our residents and families impacted by HIV/AIDS,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Even as we have made significant strides in the fight to end the epidemic, every community hasn`t received equitable access to care. I want to thank the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Bronx Ending the Epidemic HIV Roundtable, Gilead Sciences, and all of our partners who gathered with us in solidarity to promote early detection, increasing awareness about HIV prevention, and health justice for our most vulnerable residents.”
“In 2023, the Bronx had the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses compared with the other New York City boroughs due to inequitable access to care and social protections. The NYC Health Department is honored to partner with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson to ensure the residents of the Bronx have equitable access to HIV testing, treatment, and care,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “The NYC Health Department remains committed to ending the HIV epidemic and to make certain that all New Yorkers can access the full range of HIV services they need to be healthy and thrive.”
“In the Bronx, our goal is to dismantle stigma by getting people tested,” said Chair of Bronx Ending the Epidemic HIV Roundtable, Charmaine Graham. “In particular, more women of color tested. We want to emphasize prevention through PEP and PrEP.”
“As we commemorate World AIDS Day, we remember those we have lost to AIDS-related complications, uplift the lives of those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS and renew our commitment to addressing health inequities that create barriers to accessing care services and HIV/STI testing and prevention programs,” said Vice President of Public Policy and External Affairs at GMHC, Jason Cianciotto. “We are proud of our partnerships with LGBTQIA+ Taskforces, HIV and AIDS services organizations, community-based organizations, elected officials, medical providers, local leadership, and more. These partnerships are essential to the life-sustaining work that we all do for the communities we serve—particularly those neighborhoods with LGBTQIA+ youth and adults, Black and Brown people, immigrants, and people over the age of 50 living with HIV. Together we remain dedicated to our joint advocacy for fair and effective public health policies.”
“Women of reproductive age, particularly Black women in this region, have some of the highest statistics of acquiring the disease and subsequently passing it on during pregnancy to the next generation,” said Director, Perinatal Services/Maternal-Fetal Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, Dr. Kecia Gaither, MPH, MS, MBA, FACOG. “As we honor World AIDS Day, it is important to remember to educate our young women on the importance of comprehensive sex education that includes information on HIV/AIDS, safe sex practices, PrEP/PEP, and reproductive health tailored to the needs of the community. Early prenatal care is important, particularly for those afflicted with HIV/AIDS, such that initiation of HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), operative delivery as needed, and therapy for the newborn can all assist in decreasing the risk of perinatal transmission from 25-30% down to 2%.”
“Gilead’s community-focused efforts empower members of the LGBTQIA+ and HIV communities with knowledge, resources, and programs that help make a difference,” said Michael Diaz, Community Liaison, Gilead Sciences. “With the power of many, working together as one, we are making great strides in raising awareness, pushing for equality, increasing access to healthcare in places where it’s needed most, and erasing the stigma that has kept us from living the life we all deserve to live.”
The NYC Sexual Health Clinics and Sexual Health Clinic Hotline offers low to no-cost services for HIV and other STIs, contraceptive care, and medication abortion. Anyone 12 years or older can receive confidential services, regardless of immigration status. For telemedicine services, call the Sexual Health Clinic Hotline at 347-396-7959, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, including clinic locations, hours of operation, and available services, visit nyc.gov/health/sexualhealthclinics.
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