BALTIMORE, MD (June 27, 2016)– The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) today joined partners at local health departments and community-based organizations across the country in observance of National HIV Testing Day, an annual day of awareness to promote HIV testing. Baltimore typically ranks in the top five urban cities for HIV rate; there are more than 13,000 people living with HIV currently in Baltimore City.

BCHD currently performs more than 50,000 HIV tests annually at a variety of events including festivals and city and community gatherings. In support of National HIV Testing Day, the Baltimore City Health Department today hosted clinics across the city, including at Mondawmin Mall, to provide free testing, diagnosis and treatment for residents.

“We have made a great deal of progress in our fight against HIV and AIDS in Baltimore; however, we must recommit ourselves to further reducing new infections, and improving the quality of life for all our residents,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “National HIV Testing Day is an important opportunity to connect residents with the medical care they need and I urge Baltimoreans to get tested and know their status.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages everyone to know their HIV status, yet many high-risk individuals are not getting tested.

While new HIV infections have consistently declined across the city—and nationwide—new infections are increasing at alarming rates among MSM and transgender women in Baltimore. African American populations are particularity at-risk–84 percent of those living with HIV in Baltimore are African American.

In September 2015, Baltimore City was awarded over $20 million in grant funding from the CDC to support efforts to reduce HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender populations, with an emphasis on MSM of color.

As part of this project, BCHD has launched Baltimore in Conversation, a collaboration of LGBTQ community members and allies which uses visual storytelling to address social stigma surrounding sexual identity and sexual health.

In recognition of these efforts, Baltimore City joined the Fast-Track Cities Initiative, a declaration to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in cities across the world. The Fast-Track Cities Initiative is led by Mayors and city governments, closely engaged with affected communities, civil society, public health officials, clinical-providers, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders in more than 50 cities across the world to achieve the following targets by 2020:

• 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status
• 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status on HIV treatment
• 90% of people on HIV treatment with suppressed viral loads
• Zero discrimination, including stigma

The initiative is also aligned with the UNAIDS Fast-Track Strategy for ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, aiming to fast-track the AIDS response in key locations and populations, address the gap between where the response is now and where it should be, and facilitate the acceleration of prevention and treatment programs, rooted in a human rights approach.

“By putting people at the center of everything we do, by mobilizing resources in innovative way, and by uniting as leaders, Baltimore is ready to fast track our efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” Dr. Wen added. “We must continue to work together so that we can ensure that all populations across our city have access to the care and treatment they need.”

For more information about the Baltimore City Health Department’s efforts, please visit http://health.baltimorecity.gov/programs/hivstd-services

To find HIV Testing Sites & Care Services nearest you, please visit HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator https://www.aids.gov/locator/ or https://gettested.cdc.gov/. You can also text your local ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948) for a site near you.

Those who are HIV negative but at increased risk for HIV, should consider taking PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, which can prevent infection if you are exposed. Find out more at www.prepmaryland.orgaltimore