PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help reduce new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections, increase access to care, and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced over $1 million for targeted public health programs in Rhode Island.  The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Miriam Hospital will use the federal funding, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to enhance HIV testing and prevention programs and primary care services. 

“Through better education, outreach, and surveillance, these federal funds will play a critical role in the fight against HIV and AIDS.  This funding is critical to controlling the spread of HIV, assisting those who have been diagnosed, and testing those who are at the greatest risk,” said Reed, a member of the Appropriations committee.

HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which reduces a person’s ability to fight off disease. 

According to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, through 2008 Rhode Island reported over 2,800 AIDS cases, ranking 37th highest among the 50 states in cumulative reported AIDS cases.  Nationwide, HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of more than 550,000 Americans.  Today, about 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV and one-fifth of those infected are unaware of their infection.

RIDOH will receive over $600,000 as part of a multi-year program launched by the CDC to help HIV prevention through improved HIV surveillance as well as increased HIV testing and prevention activities.  CDC’s new approach features better geographic targeting of resources and a stronger focus on supporting the highest-impact prevention strategies.  This approach embodies CDC’s commitment to high impact prevention using scalable, cost-effective interventions with demonstrated potential to reduce new infections to yield a major impact on the HIV epidemic.

Miriam Hospital, which is a leader in HIV and immunology research, will receive over $400,000 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to improve primary care services for counseling and testing, partner involvement in risk reduction, transmission prevention, appropriate primary care diagnostic and treatment service, and case-management. 

Earlier this year, Rhode Island received $4.5 million through the Ryan White CARE Act, which Senator Reed helped reauthorize in 2009, to assist Rhode Islanders living with HIV obtain clinical care, purchase lifesaving medications, and get access to treatment and support services.