President Joe Biden has a plan and a new strategy which aims to end the HIV epidemic in the United States by the year 2030.
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The plan was released by the Biden Administration on Wednesday, which marks World AIDS Day, as reported by The Hill. In a 98-page document, the administration laid out a map for the federal government from now until 2025. The map will help guide the government to reduce infections, improve treatment, lessen inequities in healthcare and combat stigma.
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During his presidential campaign, Biden said he would release an updated version of the strategy that was first created under the Obama administration in 2010 when Biden was the vice president.
According to The Hill, the new strategy has four goals:
- Improving health outcomes for Americans living with the disease
- Address disparities in access to healthcare and treatment for Americans at risk
- Better coordination and integration of the national response
- Preventing new infections
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A senior administration official told reporters the president recognizes racism as a “serious public health threat” in relation to the disease. The strategy will also call on states to repeal or change HIV criminalization laws, as 35 states currently have laws criminalizing exposure to the disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black people account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people living with the disease compared to other races. In 2018, Black people made up 42% of new HIV diagnoses in the United States while only making up 13% of the U.S. population. Data from HIV.gov revealed that HIV also disproportionately impacts certain groups within the LGBTQ+ community.
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Scientists around the world continue to work on treatment and possible cures to combat the disease.
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(SOURCE) https://bnc.tv/how-biden-plans-to-end-the-hiv-epidemic-by-2030/
