Ending HIV Epidemic In New Jersey? Here’s The Plan, Officials Say

NEW JERSEY — There are more than 38,000 people in New Jersey who are living with HIV/AIDS. And last week, health officials offered a tribute to them – and those whose lives were lost to the virus in the past.

On Dec. 1, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) commemorated World AIDS Day with more than a dozen events across the state, remembering those lost and encouraging people to seek testing and treatment.

“There has been significant progress in preventing new cases and improving the lives of those living with HIV, but there is more work to be done,” health commissioner Judith Persichilli said.

Hence the state’s new blueprint for battling back the virus: “A Strategic Plan to End the HIV Epidemic in New Jersey by 2025.”

The plan, developed by the New Jersey Taskforce to End the HIV Epidemic, includes three main goals:

• Reduce the number of new HIV infections by 75%
• Promote access to testing, so 100% of individuals living with HIV/AIDS know their status
• Promote access/linkage to care, so 90% of those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are virally suppressed

There have been positive signs regarding the epidemic in New Jersey, officials say. For example, between 2010 and 2019, the number of new adult/adolescent HIV/AIDS diagnoses declined from 1,345 cases in 2010 to 1,115 in 2019 – a 17 percent decrease.

Programs aimed at “harm reduction” have also been paying off, according to the NJDOH:

“New Jersey currently has seven Harm Reduction Centers, which provide harm reduction counseling and supplies to prevent and reduce the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne diseases and prevent overdoses. In 2021, the centers have served over 3,000 clients and distributed over 1,340,928 new syringes – significantly reducing the use of used syringes among people who inject drugs. Thus far in 2021, over 6,446 patients received HIV related medications and health insurance coverage through the New Jersey AIDS Drug Distribution Program.”

Officials said the coronavirus pandemic has impacted HIV testing programs in the Garden State, but added that health workers have been innovative in their attempts to adapt – and it’s paid off for their clients.

“More than 28,000 individuals have been tested for HIV so far this year,” Persichilli said, pointing out that many HIV testing sites have also partnered with the NJDOH and local public health entities to also offer COVID-19 testing and vaccination.

But there’s more work ahead before the epidemic is over in New Jersey, officials said. That includes outreach to men of color, who have been “disproportionately impacted” in recent years.

According to the NJDOH:

“Similar to findings recently released in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vital Signs, New Jersey has found that men who have sex with men (MSM) have been disproportionately impacted in terms of new diagnoses, especially men of color. Collectively, Black and Latino MSM made up 33 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the state in 2019. The state’s ‘end the epidemic’ strategy will focus on addressing disproportionate rates of new infections in sexual and ethnic minority populations, particularly young Black and Latino MSM, and Black and Latino women, with a specific focus on transgender women of color.”

The CDC recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested at least once, and those at higher risk should be tested at least once annually.

NJDOH officials added:

• In 2021, 576 people were linked to pre‐exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention (PrEP) through the New Jersey PrEP Counselor Program. Through the program, a network of PrEP counselors provide medication—a pill a day—to those at significant risk of contracting HIV. There are 35 PrEP Counselors located across the state.
• Nearly 80 percent of persons living with HIV/AIDS are 40 years of age or older.
• Minorities account for 77 percent of adult/adolescent HIV/AIDS cases ever reported to the state, and 79 percent (79.4%) of all persons living with HIV.
• Thirty-one percent of those living with HIV/AIDS are females; 34% of females living with HIV are currently 20-49 years old.
• Eighty-seven percent of pediatric cases living with HIV/AIDS belong to minority races/ethnicities.

Send news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.