Essex and Hudson County Health Departments have been chosen as two of the 32 state and local health departments to receive money from a CDC grant created to help fight the HIV epidemic in the United States.
The CDC has awarded $109 million to state and local health departments as a part of a five-year funding program, which is part of the federal initiative Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America.
This award will expand efforts in the 50 local areas that account for most new U.S. HIV infections and in seven states with a substantial rural burden of HIV.
As a part of this grant, New Jersey will receive $3,400,000 to be split between Essex and Hudson Counties.
As of 2018, Essex County had reported a total of 8,952 people living with diagnosed HIV and Hudson County reported a total of 4,821 people.
Communities will use the funding to customize and implement high-impact HIV diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and response strategies, and to reduce local barriers to HIV prevention and care.
As our nation simultaneously battles COVID-19 and HIV, CDC is working with funded recipients to adapt plans to meet the HIV prevention needs of their communities and address current service challenges and disruptions.
“CDC is determined to provide the resources and flexibility communities will need to end the HIV epidemic while they continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” Jonathan Mermin, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, said.