Georgia Strategies to Address HIV

In 2010, President Barack Obama launched the nation’s first comprehensive strategy to end HIV/AIDS. Known as the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), this strategy has changed the way we talk about HIV/AIDS, prioritize as well as organize HIV prevention and care efforts, and deliver medical and social support services. In support of this vision, the following strategies highlight key initiatives to end the HIV epidemic in Georgia.

 
Phases I, II & III Progress Report: Building the Strategy to End AIDS in Fulton County
Established in December of 2014 by Chairman Eaves and Commissioner Garner, the Fulton County Task Force on HIV/AIDS was created to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to end AIDS in Fulton County. This strategy, broken down into 3 phases, provides a collective plan to address the needs of those living with or at risk of HIV. Key areas of the strategy include public education, advocacy, treatment, prevention, housing and HIV-related health issues for Fulton County residents. The Strategy aligns with the primary goals of the 2020 National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS): to reduce new HIV infections, increase access to care and improve health outcomes of people living with HIV/AIDS, reduce HIV-related health care disparities, and achieve a more coordinated response to HIV/AIDS.

 
 
Georgia Integrated HIV Prevention & Care Plan 2017-2021
In response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Georgia’s 2017-2021 HIV Prevention and Care Plan reflects the shared vision and values regarding how best to deliver HIV prevention and care services. The plan identifies HIV prevention and care needs, present resources, barriers, gaps within local jurisdictions, and outlines a plan to meet continuous HIV prevention and care needs. The Georgia Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan supports the vision of NHAS and brings forth an integrated approach to HIV prevention and care services specially designed for the state of Georgia. Three political jurisdictions and their respective planning bodies were involved in the process: Georgia Statewide Prevention and Care Council (G-PACC), Metropolitan Atlanta HIV Health Services Planning Council (Planning Council), and the City of Atlanta (Fulton/DeKalb Counties) Jurisdictional HIV Prevention Planning Group (JPPG).

 
 
Georgia Statewide MSM Strategic Plan
Georgia’s Statewide MSM Strategic Plan seeks to reduce new HIV infections, improve access to care, and enhance standards for gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men in Georgia. This plan focuses on key populations as identified by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Office of HIV/AIDS: Black and Latino gay and bisexual men and young MSM ages 18-24. High priority goals of the plan are as follows:

  1. Ensure that 50% of MSM (special emphasis on young MSM 18-24) are tested by December 2022;
  2. Ensure that 90% of all MSM have access to condoms by December 2021;
  3. Link 90% of all public health identified positive MSM to medical care within 14 days by December 2020 and
  4. Increase the percentage of at risk MSM (special emphasis on young MSM 18-24) in Georgia taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to 50% by December 2022