COVID-19 Disruptions in HIV Services Highlighted During 90-90-90 Targets Update

IAPAC

COVID-19-Related Disruptions in HIV Services

Highlighted during 90-90-90 Targets Update

WASHINGTON, DC, USA (July 1, 2020) – Representatives from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), World Health Organization (WHO), and International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) expressed concern today about COVID-19-related disruptions in the continuity of HIV services. They spoke during a session at the sixth annual 90-90-90 Targets Update, which IAPAC co-hosted with UNAIDS and the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) on June 30-July 1, 2020, as an AIDS 2020 Virtual pre-conference. The session was entitled, “Lost Time: Recovering from COVID-19’s Impact on the Global HIV Response.”

IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga presented data from a survey of more than 500 clinicians treating people living with HIV (PLHIV). In addition to quantifying that 53% of respondents are managing patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the survey revealed COVID-19-related disruptions in access to HIV services, including antibody testing (35%), antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation (29%), and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation (31%). Similarly, Dr. Meg Doherty, Director of the WHO’s Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programs, cited data from a survey of 99 countries reporting partial or complete disruptions across 25 different health services, including continuation of established ART (32%), tuberculosis case detection and treatment (42%), and treatment of mental health disorders (61%).

“Any disruption to HIV and health services can turn a local crisis into a humanitarian catastrophe, which we are all trying to avoid,” said Dr. Zuniga. “The global HIV community is focused on leveraging innovation, facilitating community engagement, and prioritizing human rights to mitigate potential harm to people living with and affected by HIV. Sustained access to quality health services is vital to ending the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics.”

Differentiated service delivery, multi-month drug dispensing, and telemedicine platforms were among the innovations cited by Dr. Angeli Achrekar, Principal Deputy US Global AIDS Coordinator, during a presentation about PEPFAR’s efforts to maintain the continuity of HIV services in more than 50 countries. In addition to echoing the need for innovation in the context of COVID-19, Dr. Shannon Hader, UNAIDS’s Deputy Executive Director, Programs, stressed the importance of applying lessons from the global HIV response, notably protecting human rights and facilitating community engagement, including by utilizing community organizations as essential service providers.

The 90-90-90 Targets Update, which was made possible through support from Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare, also featured seven other sessions, including separate sessions focused on national and municipal progress towards achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Launched in 2014, the programmatic targets call for 90% of PLHIV to know their status, 90% of PLHIV who know their status to access ART, and 90% of PLHIV on ART to achieve viral suppression.

# # #

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)

With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Virtual Fast-Track Cities 2020 Conference to Focus on Urban COVID-19 and HIV

Virtual Fast-Track Cities 2020 Conference to Focus on Urban COVID-19 and HIV

In-Person Fast-Track Cities 2021 Conference to Convene in Lisbon

WASHINGTON, DC, USA (June 24, 2020) – The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) is transitioning its Fast-Track Cities 2020 in-person conference to an online format due to ongoing public health concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Virtual Fast-Track Cities 2020 conference will be held September 9-10, 2020, with a focus on urban HIV responses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to a high-level panel and themed plenary sessions, the Virtual Fast-Track Cities 2020 conference program will feature case studies from more than 20 Fast-Track Cities, including Atlanta, Bangkok, Johannesburg, Kyiv, Melbourne, Montréal, Mumbai, New York City, Paris, and São Paulo. The case studies will offer urban snapshots of disruptions to HIV services and innovations deployed to maintain a continuity of HIV services.

IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga has also announced that an in-person Fast-Track Cities 2021 conference will be held March 22-25, 2021, in Lisbon. The first day will be comprised of pre-conference events. The formal conference will take place March 23-25, 2021, and will include a high-level panel hosted by Lisbon Mayor Fernando Medina to discuss the impact of drug policies on reducing harm among people who use drugs (PWUD), which has had a significant impact in reducing new HIV cases among PWUD in Lisbon and Portugal.

“We regret missing an opportunity to bring current and prospective Fast-Track Cities together in Lisbon this year. However, we are eager to maintain our momentum by hosting the Virtual Fast-Track Cities 2020 conference, with the expectation that by March 2021 we can facilitate the intercity networking and best practice-sharing that were hallmarks of last year’s inaugural Fast-Track Cities 2019 conference in London,” Dr. Zuniga explained.

The Virtual Fast-Track Cities 2020 and Fast-Track Cities 2021 conferences are organized by IAPAC, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Fast-Track Cities Institute, and other partners.

###

IAPAC Retrofits Fast-Track Cities Dashboards to Visualize COVID-19 Data and Resources

IAPAC Retrofits Fast-Track Cities Dashboards to Visualize COVID-19 Data and Resources

WASHINGTON, DC, USA (April 20, 2020) – The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), in partnership with Dure Technologies and the Fast-Track Cities Institute, is retrofitting its Fast-Track City dashboards to visualize confirmed COVID-19 case, death, and recovery data alongside existing municipal-level HIV data the dashboards have visualized since 2015. In addition to the COVID-19 data, the retrofitted dashboards will map COVID-19-related services and illustrate COVID-19 data trends.

The first two retrofitted Fast-Track City dashboards launched today are for the cities of London and New York City. Additional retrofitted dashboards will be launched later this week, available via the Fast-Track Cities Global Web Portal. Following are links to the London and New York City dashboards:

“The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting health systems in urban centers and its impact can be measured in lives endangered and too many lives tragically lost,” said IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga, who is Chair of the Fast-Track Cities Institute. “By retrofitting city dashboards, we remain true to a central tenet of the Fast-Track Cities initiative: data-driven action. Visualizing a city’s COVID-19 data reinforces local public health measures to mitigate new SARS-CoV-2 infections. Mapping COVID-19-related services is also public service to complement efforts by local health departments to communicate critical public health resources and other information.”

“We are proud to partner with IAPAC and the Fast-Track Cities Institute to leverage Fast-Track Cities dashboards to serve the public good at a time of suffering caused by the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic,” said Vipin Yadav, CEO of Dure Technologies, the Fast-Track Cities initiative’s IT partner. “While we hope local COVID-19 epidemics subside in the near future, we believe cutting-edge technology is key to advancing public health initiatives. We are prepared to continue delivering this public service to Fast-Track Cities for the foreseeable future.”

COVID-19 and HIV, TB, and Viral Hepatitis Education

While there are not enough data today to determine whether people living with HIV are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, people who have underlying conditions, including infectious diseases, are at greater potential risk of severe complications from COVID-19. Moreover, preliminary results of an IAPAC survey of HIV-treating clinicians indicate disruptions in prevention, care, treatment, and psychosocial services being delivered to people living with and at-risk for HIV. The Fast-Track Cities initiative, through IAPAC, is coordinating a series of educational webinars to educate clinicians and allied healthcare providers in Fast-Track Cities about evidence-based recommendations for managing COVID-19 for people living with HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and/or viral hepatitis.

Following the postponement of its planned Adherence 2020 conference in June 2020 due to COVID-19-related restrictive measures, IAPAC will also host a virtual Adherence 2020 pre-conference from 12-5 pm ET, May 6, 2020, focused on the “Continuity of HIV Care in the Presence of COVID-19.” Moderated by Dr. Zuniga with welcome remarks by Dr. Shannon Hader, Deputy Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the pre-conference will feature from clinician and community experts. To register online or for more information about the pre-conference, visit: https://www.iapac.org/conferences/adherence-2020-virtual-pre-conference/

Additionally, IAPAC is maintaining a repository of regularly updated evidence-based COVID-19 resources and recommendations, which can be accessed on the IAPAC website at: https://www.iapac.org/hiv-covid-19/

Fast-Track City Dashboards

Since 2015, IAPAC has developed city dashboards through support from multiple grantors, including the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, MAC AIDS Fund, Merck & Co., President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), US Agency for International Development (USAID), and ViiV Healthcare.

About Fast-Track Cities

Fast-Track Cities is a network of more than 300 cities and municipalities striving to their end urban HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis epidemics by 2030. 

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care

With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. IAPAC is also a core technical partner of the Fast-Track Cities initiative and serves as the Secretariat for the Fast-Track Cities Institute. 

IAPAC Announces Fast-Track Cities Implementation Science Fund

IAPAC Announces Fast-Track Cities Implementation Science Fund

ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences Support Fund with Combined $750,000 Contribution to Support Implementation Science Studies in Fast-Track Cities

WASHINGTON, DC, USA (April 28, 2020) – The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) announced the launch of a Fast-Track Cities Implementation Science Fund today to support clinical and community researchers to conduct studies aimed at identifying optimally effective interventions, policies, and strategies that enhance urban HIV responses. The first round of study grants will be supported by a combined $750,000 investment by ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences, which will be managed by IAPAC in coordination with an international Expert Advisory Committee.

In making the announcement, IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga noted that the rational allocation of limited human and financial resources requires new insights to guide clinical, public health, and financial decision-making among Fast-Track Cities in pursuit of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets.

He indicated the scientific field in which these types of questions are best asked and answered is implementation science, which aims to investigate barriers to the effective implementation of evidence-based interventions for public health impact and to test new approaches to implementing these interventions.

“IAPAC is proud to launch the Fast-Track Cities Implementation Science Fund, with initial support from ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences, as a vehicle to inform local decision-makers to implement interventions, policies, and strategies that can improve HIV prevention and treatment outcomes within urban HIV responses,” said Dr. Zuniga. “The funded studies will examine implementation gaps relevant to optimizing HIV care and prevention continua, without which Fast-Track Cities cannot attain and exceed the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets on a trajectory towards getting to zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS-related deaths.”

“The incredible progress made in treating and preventing HIV over the past 30 years has saved millions of lives and provided us with the tools needed to end the epidemic. However, without the effective implementation of HIV health services that take into account real-world challenges to ensure all individuals are tested, treated and cared for, our best efforts to end the epidemic will not be successful. ViiV Healthcare is proud to support IAPAC as part of our pioneering commitment to implementation science to bridge the gaps between HIV research and clinical practice,” said Dr. Maggie Czarnogorski, Director of Implementation Science at ViiV Healthcare.

“Gilead is pleased to support IAPAC with the launch of a Fast-Track Cities Implementation Science Fund. We know that it takes more than medicines to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS and are committed to supporting implementation science. The resources will address critical gaps, disparities and stigma to help identify the best interventions for Fast-Track Cities to attain and exceed the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets,” said Mr. Korab Zuka, Vice President of Public Affairs at Gilead Sciences.

The Fast-Track Cities Implementation Science Fund will prioritize the following gaps for study: 1) finding and testing HIV unawares; 2) improving linkage to HIV prevention, care, and support services; 3) promoting the prompt initiation of and adherence to antiretroviral therapy; 4) maximizing retention and long-term engagement in HIV care; 5) improving health-related quality of life and quality of care; 6) addressing disparities in access to/utilization of HIV prevention and care services; 7) optimizing care for unique populations, including children, adolescents and elderly people living with HIV; 8) eliminating stigma and discrimination, notably within health settings; and 9) accelerating uptake of innovative policies and programs, as well as new diagnostics, medicines, and technologies.

The Fast-Track Cities Implementation Science Fund’s international Expert Advisory Committee is comprised of implementation science experts and community researchers. They are tasked with establishing study criteria, reviewing/approving study proposals, and analyzing/translating study results for dissemination across the Fast-Track Cities network. The Expert Advisory Committee is expected to approve Letter of Interest (LOI) guidance that will be made available to interested applicants at www.iapac.org in early May 2020.

About Fast-Track Cities
Fast-Track Cities is a network of more than 300 cities and municipalities striving to their end urban HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis epidemics by 2030.

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. IAPAC is also a core technical partner of the Fast-Track Cities initiative. 

IAPAC, UN-Habitat Partner to End Urban HIV, TB, HCV Epidemics

UN-Habitat logo

 

IAPAC

 

 

 

IAPAC, UN-Habitat Partner to End Urban HIV, TB, HCV Epidemics

Memorandum of Understanding Signed at 10th World Urban Forum

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (February 12, 2020) – The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) and the United Nations Programme on Human Settlements (UN-Habitat) announced a new partnership today to strengthen the efforts of Fast-Track Cities to end their urban HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis epidemics within the context of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable). Today’s announcement coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IAPAC and UN-Habitat at the 10th World Urban Forum.

“Addressing the need for people to live in cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable is essential to ending the HIV, TB, and viral epidemics.” said Dr. José M. Zuniga, IAPAC President/CEO, who signed the MoU today alongside Mr. Victor Kisob, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat. “Through this partnership with UN-Habitat we embark on a ‘Decade of Action’ to make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality within the context of the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities and the New Urban Agenda.”

By signing the MoU, IAPAC and UN-Habitat agree to engage in joint advocacy and best practice-sharing among Fast-Track Cities regarding the health-related priorities in the New Urban Agenda, which was adopted at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016, and endorsed by the UN General Assembly that same year. The New Urban Agenda outlines global principles, policies, and standards required to achieve sustainable urban development. The IAPAC and UN-Habitat partnership will also prioritize the collection and dissemination of programmatic and other data to enhance public health interventions.

“Thriving cities must be healthy cities and this collaboration with IAPAC brings on board experts from the two agencies to address a core issue of getting cities on that last mile towards ending their HIV epidemics. Cities must have the knowledge, technology, data, and funding that can ensure that no one and no community is left behind,” said Mr. Victor Kisob.

The 10th World Urban Forum is convened by UN-Habitat to promote sustainable urban development. This year’s forum theme is “Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation.”

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care

With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. 

About UN-Habitat

UN-Habitat is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future.  Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable and inclusive human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.

About Fast-Track Cities

Fast-Track Cities is a network of more than 300 cities and municipalities striving to their end urban HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis epidemics by 2030. 

Lisbon to Host Fast-Track Cities 2020 Conference

Lisboa

 

 

 

 

Lisbon to Host Fast-Track Cities 2020 Conference

Conference’s High-Level Panel to Feature Evidence-Based Approaches to Drug Policy

LISBON, Portugal (January 17, 2020) – The Camara Municipal de Lisboa and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) hosted a press announcement and a community-led panel discussion today about the need for Fast-Track Cities to pursue evidence-based approaches to drug policy to curb new HIV infections while respecting the human rights of people who use drugs.

The 2019 UNAIDS Drugs Report acknowledged that while new HIV infections among adults worldwide declined by 14% between 2011 and 2017, there has been no decrease in the annual number of new HIV infections among people who inject drugs. Yet, between 2008 and 2017, there was a 93% decrease in HIV cases among people who inject drugs in Portugal, according to the Portuguese National AIDS Agency, a reduction to which new harm reduction policies contributed.

The announcement and panel discussion took place during a City Hall event where Lisbon Mayor Fernando Medina announced his city would play host later this year to local stakeholders from more than 300 cities and municipalities accelerating the end of their urban HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis epidemics by 2030. The Fast-Track Cities 2020 conference, taking place September 7-10, 2020, is expected to convene more than 1,000 delegates from 300+ current and numerous prospective Fast-Track Cities in every region of the world.

In announcing the Fast-Track Cities 2020 conference, Mayor Medina also said the focus of the conference’s high-level panel will be on drug policies and harm reduction. The high-level panel will consist of Mayors and other elected officials, as well as public health leaders. The focus of the Fast-Track Cities 2019 conference’s high-level panel in London was on health inequalities, with Mayor Sadiq Khan chairing the panel. Lisbon’s Mayor Medina will do likewise at the Fast-Track Cities 2020 conference.

“Drug policies need to be focused on reducing harm among people who use drugs, instead of furthering the stigma associated with the criminalization of drug use. The expansion of harm reduction services in Lisbon and in Portugal has made a significant impact in reducing the numbers of new HIV cases in people who inject drugs,” said Mayor Medina. “We are proud to highlight Lisbon’s experience in transforming public health at the Fast-Track Cities 2020 conference.”

In his welcome remarks at today’s event, IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga welcomed Mayor Medina’s wish to focus attention on rights-based drug policies and harm reduction interventions for people who use drugs, adding that it is at the city and municipal levels where the most efficient collaboration takes place between civic authorities, health services, and communities of people who use drugs.

“Where sound drug policies and harm reduction services are in place, such as in Portugal, we have seen significant decreases in HIV infections among people who inject drugs and their partners,” said IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga. “Harm reduction shows its best results when it is planned at municipal and national levels and where local stakeholders have a degree of autonomy in terms of organizing services that best serve the needs of their key populations,” Dr. Zuniga explained.

A Portugal-focused panel discussion capped off today’s Fast-Track Cities event, covering issues ranging from budgeting for harm reduction to engaging communities of people who use drugs. The panelists included Isabel Aldir, Director of Portugal’s National Program for HIV/ AIDS and Viral Hepatitis; Luís Mendão, President of the Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos (GAT); Andreia Pinto Ferreira, General Director of Ser+; Elsa Belo, Technical Director, Programa de Substituição em Baixo Limiar de Exigência at Ares do Pinhal; and João Goulão, General Director of the Intervention on Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (SICAD) at the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

The Fast-Track Cities 2020 conference is organized by IAPAC, UNAIDS, and other partners. For more information, please visit: https://www.iapac.org/conferences/fast-track-cities-2019/fast-track-cities-2020/

Fast-Track Cities Welcomes New Communities on World AIDS Day 2019

Fast-Track Cities Welcomes New Communities on World AIDS Day 2019

The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) welcomed several new cities and municipalities to the Fast-Track Cities network to commemorate World AIDS Day 2019. The initiative is marking its fifth anniversary since the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities was originally signed by 26 municipalities on World AIDS Day 2014 in Paris. Since then the Fast-Track Cities network has grown to more than 300 municipalities that are working in solidarity to end urban HIV, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis epidemics by 2030.

North America

IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga spoke at a signing ceremony on World AIDS Day 2019 in which both the City of St. Louis and Saint Louis County joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative. St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said the initiative “truly furthers the overall vision of the city’s health department, which is to create an equitable city achieving optimal health for all.”

St. Louis
St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis joined Fast-Track Cities on December 1, 2019.

 

“We proudly welcome the City and County of St. Louis to the Fast-Track Cities initiative on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2019,” said Dr. Zuniga. “St. Louis will benefit from the collective best practices and lessons learned from a network of more than 300 Fast-Track Cities and other municipalities that are working in solidarity to end urban HIV epidemics by 2030. As important, the Fast-Track Cities network’s emphasis on community-led HIV responses aligns well with the US federal government’s prioritization of 48 counties, two territories, and seven states, including Missouri.”

 

 

IAPAC’s Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Duncombe delivered remarks at a “Fast-Track Nevada” signing ceremony in Las Vegas also on World AIDS Day 2019 to welcome Clark County, Nevada, and the cities of Boulder, Henderson, and Las Vegas to the Fast-Track Cities initiative. By reaching a critical mass of cities across the state, Nevada was recognized as the first “Fast-Track State” in the United States. Clark County, Nevada, is one of the 48 counties that are being targeted by the Trump administration’s nationwide plan to end the HIV epidemic.

“The Fast-Track Nevada initiative represents the dedication and support of our local, state, federal, and global partners who are committed to providing comprehensive resources in our community and stopping the epidemic,” said Dr. Fermin Leguen, Acting Chief Health Officer, Southern Nevada Health District.

Fast-Track Nevada
Las Vegas and several other cities in Nevada joined Fast-Track Cities on December 1, 2019.

 

Texas became America’s second “Fast-Track State” on December 4, 2019, as civic leaders, health officials, and community advocates gathered to add Harris County and the City of Houston to the Fast-Track Cities network. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed the Paris Declaration alongside IAPAC’s President/CEO, Dr. Zuniga. The ceremony coincided with the final day of the Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit in Houston.

“Ending HIV is not only a lifesaving endeavor, it is also an economically sound approach that saves millions of dollars in health care costs,” said Mayor Turner. “I’m proud to add Houston as a Fast Track City, complementing the quality work of the Houston Health Department in ending the HIV epidemic.”

“Today, we are proudly reaffirming our commitment to helping those living with HIV/AIDS and to ending the epidemic,” said Judge Hidalgo. “We will continue to provide the best quality care for our HIV/AIDS community and work to stop new transmissions from occurring, but we know there is so much more to be done.”

Houston and Harris County, Texas, joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative on December 4, 2019.

 

Dallas (Dallas County), Austin (Travis County), and San Antonio (Bexar County), Texas are also members of the Fast-Track Cities network. The four Texas counties are among the 48 counties that are being targeted in the federal government’s plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.

 

Europe

Palermo became Italy’s third Fast-Track City on November 24, 2019, with the signature of Mayor Leoluca Orlando. Upon signing the Paris Declaration, Mayor Orland emphasized that “in Palermo we want to make everyone visible, because those who are invisible have no rights.” The event was attended by Rosaria Iardino, an Italian journalist and advocate for people living with HIV who is President of Fondazione The Bridge and coordinates the work of Fast-Track Cities in Milan. IAPAC was represented by Dr. Antonella d’Arminio Monforte who is a professor at the University of Milan.

Palermo
Palermo joined Fast-Track Cities on November 24, 2019

 

The City of Florence, Italy, joined the Fast-Track Cities network on November 30, 2019. Mayor Dario Nardella emphasized the importance of HIV prevention as he signed the Paris Declaration. IAPAC was represented by our Vice President for Strategic Partnerships Bertrand Audoin.

Firenze HIV AIDS
Florence joined Fast-Track Cities on November 30, 2019

 

Several municipalities have recently joined Fast-Track Cities from the United Kingdom. The health minister for Wales, Vaughan Gething, attended a ceremony alongside IAPAC’s Vice President for Strategic Partnerships, Mr. Audoin and other local officials and advocates to welcome Cardiff to the Fast-Track Cities network on November 28, 2019.

Cardiff
Cardiff joined the Fast-Track Cities network on November 28, 2019.

 

The City of Bristol, England joined the initiative two days later on November 30, 2019.

“By adopting the Fast Track Cities Initiative’s principles in Bristol and pioneering a ‘One City’ approach to tackle health inequalities, I am confident that we can rise to this challenge and end new HIV infections by 2030,” said Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees.

Bristol (UK)
Bristol joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative on November 30, 2019.

 

Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries signed the Paris Declaration on November 25, 2019, joining six other Fast-Track Cities in France that are working together to reverse their local HIV epidemics. The ceremony coincided with a public awareness campaign to promote HIV testing.

Strasbourg
Strasbourg joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative on November 25, 2019.

 

Our Vice President for Strategic Partnerships, Mr. Audoin represented IAPAC at a signing ceremony in Prague, Czech Republic, on December 5, 2019, that was also attended by Mayor Zdeněk Hřib and health councilor Milena John. The incidence of HIV infections has been rising in the Czech Republic in recent years. Since monitoring began in 1985, roughly one out of two new infections has occurred in the capital city of Prague.

“I am glad that Prague will join other world capitals in the fight against AIDS. With Fast-Track Cities, we can say: together we are stronger, together we are louder, together we can change the world. The health of our citizens is a priority for us and we must not underestimate it,” said Mayor Hřib.

Prague
Prague joined Fast-Track Cities on December 5, 2019

 

The cities of Podgorica, Bijelo Poljé, and Bar, Montenegro joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative on December 2, 2019. Pordgorica Mayor Ivan Vuković signed the Paris Declaration alongside Dušan Raičević, the Mayor of Bar, and Petar Smolović, the Mayor of Bijelo Poljé. Mayor Vuković said that stigma remains a significant challenge in Montenegro.

“We have decided not to turn a blind eye to the problem, but to tackle it, and in this way give an institutional response in accordance with what the goals and principles of action are at the global level,” said Vuković, who also pledged to prioritize HIV prevention and education for young people.

Montenegro
Three municipalities joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative from Montenegro on December 2, 2019.

 

Asia

The cities of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang, Cambodia joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative on December 4, 2019, along with the province of Banteay Meanchey. According to a new report by UNAIDS, there were 880 new HIV infections in Cambodia in 2018, reflecting a 95% decrease from 16,500 new infections at the peak of the local epidemic in 1997.

Cambodia
Four Cambodian municipalities joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative on December 4, 2019.

 

 

 

NYC and Geneva Surpass UNAIDS 90-90-90 HIV Targets

NYC and Geneva Surpass UNAIDS 90-90-90 HIV Targets
Fast-Track Cities Release New HIV Testing and Treatment Data

Washington, DC, USA (December 2, 2019) – Health officials in New York City, NY, USA, and the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, announced today that these two cities have surpassed the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets. The Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities calls for attaining and surpassing the targets, which translate into 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) knowing their status, 90% of PLHIV who know their status accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 90% of PLHIV on ART achieving viral suppression.

New York City, which became a Fast-Track City in 2016, is the first Fast-Track City in the United States to surpass the 90-90-90 targets by attaining 93-90-92. By attaining 90-96-93, the Canton of Geneva becomes the fifth European municipality to reach this important milestone, joining the cities of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Brighton, UK; London, UK; and Manchester, UK. The Canton of Geneva was among the 26 initial cities and municipalities to join the Fast-Track Cities network in 2014.

“The attainment of these global programmatic targets by New York City and the Canton of Geneva marks a momentous milestone on any Fast-Track City’s journey towards ending its HIV epidemic,” said IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga. “We congratulate the political and public health leaders, clinicians and services providers, and community members who have made these achievements possible. We also encourage their ongoing efforts to get to zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma by 2030.”

As a core partner of the Fast-Track Cities initiative, IAPAC today launched new interactive data dashboards made possible through support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and ViiV Healthcare. The dashboards illustrate baseline 90-90-90 data for eight Fast-Track Cities:

Fast-Track City (2018 data) Know Status On ART Virally Suppressed
Columbia, SC, USA 84% N/A* 85%
Fulton County (Atlanta), GA, USA 84% 87% 82%
Jefferson County (Birmingham), AL, USA 84% 76% 83%
Kampala, Uganda 59% 98% 93%
Lagos, Nigeria 66% 99% 84%
Washington, DC, USA 87% 78% 85%
Windhoek, Namibia 85% 89% 73%
Yaoundé, Cameroon 74% 87% N/A*

*N/A:  Data are not currently generated

“Fast-Track Cities can only accelerate their HIV responses to achieve the 90-90-90 targets if they know their local epidemics – notably the gaps across the HIV care continuum,” said Dr. Zuniga. “That is why data-driven, equity-based HIV responses are at the heart of ending urban HIV epidemics by 2030, and a priority for technical assistance to Fast-Track Cities.”

These eight municipalities whose data dashboards were launched today are among a total of 42 Fast-Track Cities that are reporting new or updated 90-90-90 data this year. Several of these cities and municipalities have reported significant progress since the year they reported their baseline data, including:

  • Bangkok, Thailand, which went from 79-57-79 (2016) to 92-78-76 (2018);
  • Kyiv, Ukraine, which went from 51-44-85 (2015) to 73-73-96 (2018); and
  • Nairobi County, Kenya, which went from 77-96-55 (2016) to 79-99-92 (2018).

“The progress made in Bangkok, Kyiv, and Nairobi County is a testament to prioritizing programs and resources towards leaving no woman, man, or child behind, which includes addressing health inequalities,” said Dr. Zuniga. “Kyiv’s progress, for example, demonstrates that even in a city resisting strong epidemiological headwinds faced by other cities in Eastern Europe, our calculus for success – political commitment, public health innovation, and the meaningful engagement of affected communities – is working.”

Following is a full list of cities and municipalities that have reported new or updated 90-90-90 data during 2019:

NORTH AMERICA

Atlanta (Fulton County), GA, USA (2018):  84-87-82
Austin, TX, USA (2016):  100-80-72
Columbia, SC, USA (2018):  84-N/A*-75
Denver, CO, USA (2018):  87-N/A*-90
Birmingham (Jefferson County), AL, USA (2018):  84-76-83
Minneapolis, MN, USA (2017):  88-72-88
New Orleans, LA, USA (2018):  87-75-89
New York City, NY, USA (2018):  93-90-92
Phoenix, AZ, USA (2017):  87-58-99
Providence, RI, USA (2017):  91-79-91
San Antonio (Bexar County), TX, USA (2018):  81-72-87
San Francisco, CA, USA (2017):  94-79-94
Washington, DC, USA (2018):  87-78-85

LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN

Kingston/St. Andrew, Jamaica (2018):  93-53-66
Salvador de Bahia, Brazil (2017):  58-78-91
São Paulo, Brazil (2018):  87-72-95

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2018):  77-98-N/A*
eThekwini, South Africa (2018):  91-77-93
Johannesburg, South Africa (April-June 2019):  86-65-85
Kampala, Uganda (2018):  59-98-93
Kigali, Rwanda (2018):  91-94-89
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (2018):  74-56-54
Lagos, Nigeria (2018):  66-99-84
Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (2018):  65-92-23
Nairobi County, Kenya (2018):  79-99-92
Windhoek, Namibia (2018):  85-89-73
Yaoundé, Cameroon (2018):  74-87-N/A*

ASIA-PACIFIC

Almaty, Kazakhstan (2018):  84-80-70
Bangkok, Thailand (2018):  92-78-76
Taipei, Taiwan (2018):  80-92-96
Quezon City, Philippines (2018):  76-66-17

WESTERN, CENTRAL, EASTERN EUROPE

Amsterdam, Netherlands (2018):  95-94-96
Berlin, Germany (2018):  89-93-95
Brighton, UK (2017):  93-99-99
Canton of Geneva, Switzerland (2017):  90-96-93
Kyiv, Ukraine (2018):  73-73-96
London, UK (2018):  95-98-97
Manchester, UK (2017):  91-97-94
Milan, Italy (2017):  N/A*-96-90
Odesa, Ukraine (2018):  70-56-92
Paris, France (2018):  88-96-94
Seville, Spain (2018):  85-98-95

*N/A:  Data are not currently generated

Fast-Track Cities data are maintained and updated online at http://fast-trackcities.org.

About Fast-Track Cities

Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between almost 300 cities and municipalities, the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the City of Paris. The partnership’s aim is to end urban HIV epidemics by getting to zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero HIV-related stigma. The initiative was launched on World AIDS Day 2014 in Paris.

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)

With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Please visit www.iapac.org for more information about IAPAC’s activities.

IAPAC Launches ViiV Healthcare-Funded FTC Data Dashboards

IAPAC Launches ViiV Healthcare-Funded FTC Data Dashboards

‘Data-Informed, Equity-Based HIV Responses are at the Heart of Ending Urban HIV Epidemics’

Washington, DC, USA (December 1, 2019) – The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) today launched data dashboards visualizing baseline data for three Fast-Track Cities that are striving to attain and surpass the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets. Among the US municipalities whose ViiV Healthcare-funded dashboards were launched today are Columbia, SC; Fulton County (Atlanta), GA; and Washington, DC.

The 90-90-90 targets translate into 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) knowing their status, 90% of PLHIV who know their status accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 90% of PLHIV on ART achieving viral suppression. The Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities calls for attaining and surpassing the 90-90-90 targets, as well as addressing HIV-related stigma, on a trajectory towards getting to zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma.

Fast-Track City (2018 data) Know Status On ART Virally Suppressed
Columbia, SC (USA) 84% N/A* 90%
Fulton County (Atlanta), GA (USA) 84% 87% 82%
Washington, DC (USA) 87% 78% 85%

*N/A: Data are not currently generated

“Fast-Track Cities can only accelerate their HIV responses to achieve the 90-90-90 targets if they know their local epidemics – notably the gaps,” said IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga. “That is why data-driven, equity-based HIV responses are at the heart of ending urban HIV epidemics by 2030.”

In addition to these three Fast-Track Cities, several more cities and municipalities are reporting new or updated 90-90-90 data on World AIDS Day 2019. These data are available at http://fast-trackcities.org.

About Fast-Track Cities

Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between almost 300 cities and municipalities, the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the City of Paris that are collaborating to reach zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero HIV-related stigma. The initiative was launched on World AIDS Day 2014 in Paris.

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)

With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Youth Against AIDS and IAPAC Announce Fast-Track Cities Partnership

Youth Against AIDS

 

 

 

 

 

Youth Against AIDS and IAPAC Announce Fast-Track Cities Partnership

WASHINGTON, DC (November 25, 2019) –  In the lead-up to World AIDS Day 2019, the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) and Youth Against AIDS announced a partnership today to facilitate increased sexual health literacy and condom use, and decreased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth across the Fast-Track Cities network.

“We cannot end the public health threat posed by HIV without fully engaging young people,” said IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga. “We are proud to partner with Youth Against AIDS to enhance sexual health literacy, promote the use of condoms, and decrease the incidence of HIV and other STIs. We share a common commitment to the Sustainable Development Goal of ending the public health threat posed by HIV by 2030, and a mutual interest in responding to the needs of urban youth.”

By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), IAPAC and Youth Against AIDS agreed to develop and disseminate sexual health literacy tools for people between the ages of 14 and 25, negotiate the introduction of condom distribution dispensers in Fast-Track Cities, and conduct research regarding HIV and sexual health literacy.

“In a world impacted by major technological and societal disruptions, we need to find new ways to face the HIV epidemic among young generations. Many regions of the world are lacking a dedicated youth strategy,” said Daniel Nagel, the CEO of Youth Against AIDS. “That’s why we are proud to partner with IAPAC to promote sexual health, condom use, and decrease HIV & STI new infections among young people in Fast-Track Cities around the world.”

About Youth Against AIDS

Youth against AIDS is a nonprofit organization of young people that promotes sexual health worldwide. Its goal is to empower young people to deal with their sexuality in a self-confident and responsible way. In this way they promote openness and mutual respect and contribute to the fact that sexually transmitted diseases no longer have a place in the young generation. In order to achieve their goals, they go new ways and use innovative formats. In this way, they reach their young target group at eye level and set new impulses that advance the debate on sexual health and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases in Germany and worldwide.

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care

With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

New Data Show Local HIV Epidemics Can End Decades Sooner Than Expected

 

 

 

 

New Data Show Local HIV Epidemics Can End Decades Sooner Than Expected

Modeling Indicates Rapid Scale-Up of Antiretroviral Therapy Can Halt Urban HIV Epidemics

Sindhu Ravishankar
Sindhu Ravishankar

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (September 9, 2019) — The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) reported modeling data today about the potential to accelerate the end of urban HIV epidemics through increased antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage for people living with HIV. Sindhu Ravishankar, MPhil, IAPAC’s Senior Director of Technical Programs, also reported updated HIV diagnosis, ART coverage, and viral suppression data from 61 Fast-Track Cities during her presentation at the Fast-Track Cities 2019 conference. The conference is convening more than 750 delegates from around the world to address the public health threats posed by HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis.

“Our modeling data for Lusaka and Nairobi show that with current levels of ART coverage, HIV incidence and mortality can be lowered to end their HIV epidemics but not by 2030 at the current rate of scale up,” said Ravishankar. “However, implementing aggressive ART scale-up, including annual testing for anyone at risk and immediate ART initiation, has the potential to end urban HIV epidemics many years sooner compared to business as usual, contributing to the global goal of ending the HIV epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.”

The ART modeling exercise led by Brian Williams, PhD, of the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling & Analysis (SACEMA), focused on the high HIV burden cities of Lusaka and Nairobi. Ending a local HIV epidemic was defined as less than one new HIV infection and one AIDS-related death per 1,000 adults.

Nairobi HIV
Nairobi County could end its HIV epidemic in less than five years with an aggressive scale-up of ART.
Nairobi Co.
Current projections show three decades remain in Nairobi’s HIV epidemic without aggressive ART.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The modeling on Lusaka demonstrated that Zambia’s capital city could end its local HIV epidemic as early as 2020 with aggressive ART scale up. Since Lusaka is not currently projected to end its local HIV epidemic until 2050, the modeling data reveal that more rapid progress is possible by scaling up HIV treatment as prevention. Similarly, the modeling for Nairobi suggests ending that city’s epidemic in 2024 could be possible with aggressive ART scale-up, compared to 2050 if current ART levels are maintained.

“Mathematical models have a critical role to play in managing and controlling HIV,” said Williams. “Models allow us to capture the dynamic processes underlying epidemics, to set targets and to monitor progress. But modelling relies heavily on good routine monitoring and surveillance data to inform the models, guide the response, and confirm the outcomes. Many Fast-Track Cities now have such data systems in place and the models show that we can end HIV epidemics in cities, in some scenarios faster than we expect.”

Ravishankar’s presentation also included updated 90-90-90 data from 61 cities. Notably, 14 cities have surpassed the first 90 target (awareness of HIV status), 16 cities have surpassed the second 90 (ART initiation), and 23 cities have surpassed the third 90 (sustained viral suppression). Three cities have surpassed the 90-90-90 targets (Amsterdam, Brighton and Hove, Manchester) and one city, London, has surpassed 95-95-95.

Cities and municipalities that join the Fast-Track Cities network seek to have at least 90% of people living with HIV knowing their status, ensure that at least 90% of those who know they have HIV are on antiretroviral therapy, and to have 90% of those on ART become virally suppressed. Since World AIDS Day 2014, more than 300 municipalities have joined the Fast-Track Cities network. Today, Fast-Track Cities is part of a growing movement working to end urban HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis epidemics by 2030.

Getting to Zero

 

Global Leaders Unite to Tackle Health Inequalities at Fast-Track Cities 2019

 

 

 

 

Global Leaders Unite To Tackle Health Inequalities 

Delegates from more than 300 Municipalities Join Global Fast-Track Cities Conference on Urban HIV, Tuberculosis, and Viral Hepatitis

Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (September 9, 2019) – London Mayor Sadiq Khan today welcomed city, municipal, and global leaders to Fast-Track Cities 2019, the inaugural conference of more than 300 cities and municipalities prioritizing their responses to urban HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis. Speaking at the conference, Mayor Khan highlighted the problem of health inequalities across the world, as well as the need to end the stigma still associated with HIV. He also reiterated the bold ambition for London to achieve the target of no new HIV infections, deaths, and stigma by 2030.

“I’m honoured that city and health leaders from all around the world are uniting today in London. The first international gathering of Fast-Track Cities will be a truly historic event in our fight against HIV and health inequalities,” said Mayor Khan. “I’m also proud of the work London is doing to tackle HIV and inequality, and am pleased that we will be able to share our knowledge and experience with others. But despite our progress, there is still much more to be done as too many people continue to catch the virus. To truly end all new cases of HIV in London, it’s high time the Government made PrEP available via the NHS for all those who need it. No ifs, no buts, and no more pilots – we know it works, it stops the spread of infection and saves money in the long run.”

More than half of the world’s population currently lives in urban centers where the risk of contracting HIV, TB, and hepatitis is significantly higher due to urban dynamics such as social behavior, migration, unemployment, and social and economic inequalities. However, cities and municipalities also have inherent advantages and offer important opportunities to accelerate health responses and take transformative action to ensure that equitable access to health services is available to everyone.

“We have seen that for an effective response to HIV it is critical to remove inequalities, power imbalances, marginalization, and discrimination,” said Gunilla Carlsson, Executive Director a.i., of UNAIDS, one of four core partners of the Fast-Track Cities initiative. “Cities must use their advantages to leverage innovation, create social transformation, and build equitable societies that are inclusive, responsive, resilient, and sustainable,” she added.

Organized by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and other partners, the Fast-Track Cities 2019 conference is being held from September 9-11, 2019, at the Barbican Centre. The conference’s aim is to highlight successes achieved across the Fast-Track Cities network, address cross-cutting challenges faced by local stakeholders, and share best practices in accelerating urban AIDS responses, inclusive of co-infectious diseases such as TB and viral hepatitis. The conference features plenary sessions, panel discussions, and abstract presentations by representatives from more than  300 Fast-Track Cities.

“Health inequalities are preventing people living with HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis, notably from disenfranchised and minority ethnic communities, from accessing the services they need to live longer, healthier lives,” said Dr. José M. Zuniga, President/CEO of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), one of the core partners of the Fast-Track Cities initiative and the conference’s organizer. “We are convening in London because the city’s high level of political commitment, public health leadership, support from clinical and service providers, and engagement with affected communities have enabled the city to surpass the Fast-Track Cities’ programmatic HIV targets. We are here to shine a light on London’s efforts to reduce and eliminate health inequalities that contravene the principles of social justice.”

When London joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative in January 2018, the city had already met the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, which are defined as 90% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 90% of people who know their status accessing HIV treatment, and 90% of people accessing HIV treatment achieving viral suppression. FTC London, a pan-city group of stakeholders steering the city’s Fast-Track Cities engagement, has made outreach to the black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) community a priority in their “London Getting to Zero” strategy.

High-Level Panel

The “High-Level Panel on Health Inequalities,” which was the official opening of the Fast-Track Cities 2019 conference, included the following elected officials:

  • Kostas Bakoyannis (Mayor, Athens, Greece)
  • Josefina Belmonte (Mayor, Quezon City, Philippines)
  • Winston Ennis (Deputy Mayor, Kingston, Jamaica)
  • Simone Kukenheim (Deputy Mayor, Amsterdam, Netherlands)
  • Fernando Medina (Mayor, Lisbon, Portugal)
  • Svante Myrick (Mayor, Ithaca, NY, USA)
  • Robb Pitts (Chairman, Fulton County, Atlanta, GA, USA)
  • Mykola Povoroznyk, (First Deputy Mayor, Kyiv, Ukraine)
  • Gennadiy Trukhanov (Mayor, Odessa, Ukraine)

In addition to IAPAC’s Dr. Zuniga, and UNAIDS’ Ms. Carlsson, several global public health leaders also participated in the “High Level Panel on Health Inequalities,” including:

  • Amb. Deborah L. Birx (US Global AIDS Coordinator, PEPFAR)
  • Cary James (CEO, World Hepatitis Alliance)
  • Suvanand Sahu (Deputy Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership)
  • Maimunah Mohd Sharif (Executive Director, UN-Habitat)
  • Trevor Stratton (Board Member, GNP+)
  • Marijke Wijnroks (Chief of Staff, Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria)

The panel was moderated by UK-based broadcaster and former BBC journalist Henry Bonsu.

World Hepatitis Alliance and IAPAC Announce Fast-Track Cities Partnership

 

 

 

 

World Hepatitis Alliance and IAPAC Announce Fast-Track Cities Partnership

WHA-IAPACLONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (September 9, 2019) – The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) announced a new partnership today on the first day of the Fast-Track Cities 2019 conference in London. The conference is convening more than 750 delegates from a network of more than 300 Fast-Track Cities striving to end urban HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV) epidemics.

“Our partnership with the World Hepatitis Alliance will support Fast-Track Cities in addressing the public health threat posed by HBV and HCV,” said IAPAC President/CEO Dr. José M. Zuniga. “In the era of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, we have an obligation to work with our colleagues across health conditions. We are honored to formally join with the World Hepatitis Alliance to reach our mutual goal of ending hepatitis-related deaths among people living with HIV and, ultimately, achieving HBV and HCV elimination.”

World Hepatitis Alliance CEO Cary James signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) alongside IAPAC’s Dr. Zuniga during a ceremony at the Fast-Track Cities 2019 conference today at the Barbican Centre in London. The conference, which features panels and presentations from researchers, community advocates, and elected officials, will run through to Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

“We are excited to join with the Fast-Track Cities initiative to accelerate and strengthen cities’ responses to viral hepatitis, a disease which claims 1.4 million lives each year,” said World Hepatitis Alliance CEO Cary James. “We have the tools needed to eliminate viral hepatitis, but a key challenge is finding the 290 million people who are unaware that they are living with viral hepatitis. Up-scaling diagnoses will be the cornerstone to cities’ hepatitis responses. If we find the missing millions and link them to treatment, we can eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.”

The MOU affirms a commitment between IAPAC and the World Hepatitis Alliance to joint advocacy, awareness-raising, capacity-building, and other activities in support of the goal of eliminating HBV and HCV by 2030.


About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)

IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. For more information about IAPAC, please visit: https://www.iapac.org/

 

About Fast-Track Cities

Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between almost 300 cities and municipalities, IAPAC, UNAIDS, UN-Habitat, and the City of Paris that are collaborating to end the epidemics of HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis in urban settings by 2030. For more information please visit: https://www.iapac.org/fast-track-cities/about-fast-track/

 

About the World Hepatitis Alliance

Patient-led and patient-driven, the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) represents the 325 million people living with viral hepatitis worldwide as well as over 280 member organizations in 91 countries. WHA amplifies patient voices in global health; builds the capacity of our members to advocate and deliver services; increases awareness of viral hepatitis through integrated campaigns; and works with partners to develop and implement comprehensive hepatitis strategies in countries around the world. Through increased screening, accessible treatment, wider awareness, targeted prevention, patient-centered care and support, WHA’s ultimate goal is the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030. For more information please visit www.worldhepatitisalliance.org

London to Host Global Conference on Urban HIV, TB, and Viral Hepatitis

 

 

PRESS ADVISORY FOR 13:30 GMT, SEPT. 9, 2019

London to Host Global Conference on Urban HIV, TB, and Viral Hepatitis

The Fast-Track Cities 2019 conference will welcome hundreds of delegates from 300+ cities and municipalities that have committed to ending their epidemics of HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis by 2030. Delegates will include elected officials, public health leaders, and civil society advocates. The conference, which runs from September 9-11, 2019, in London, will open with a “High-Level Panel on Addressing Health Inequalities.”

High-Level Panel on Health Inequalities

  • Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor-Elect, Athens, Greece
  • Josefina Belmonte, Mayor, Quezon City, Philippines
  • Winston Ennis, Deputy Mayor, Kingston, Jamaica
  • Vitali Klitschko, Mayor, Kyiv, Ukraine
  • Simone Kukenheim, Deputy Mayor, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Robb Pitts, Chairman, Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Atlanta, GA, USA
  • Philippe Saurel, Mayor, Montpellier, France
  • Mike Sonko, Governor, Nairobi City County, Kenya
  • Jacquelyne Mugenyi Alesi, Chair, GNP+, Kampala, Uganda
  • Deborah Birx, US Ambassador and Global AIDS Coordinator, Washington, DC, USA
  • Gunilla Carlsson, Executive Director a.i., UNAIDS, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Cary James, World Hepatitis Alliance, London, England, UK
  • Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director, UN-Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya
  • Sahu Suvanand, Deputy Director, Stop TB Partnership, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Marijke Wijnroks, Chief of Staff, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland
  • José M. Zuniga, President/CEO, IAPAC, Washington, DC, USA

Barbican Hall
Barbican Centre
Silk Street
London, England (UK)

September 9, 2019

13:30 GMT – 15:30 GMT

The conference program is available at: https://www.iapac.org/conferences/fast-track-cities/#program

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)

IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. For more information about IAPAC, please visit: https://www.iapac.org/

About Fast-Track Cities

Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between almost 300 cities and municipalities, IAPAC, UNAIDS, UN-Habitat, and the City of Paris that are collaborating to end the epidemics of HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis in urban settings by 2030. For more information please visit: https://www.iapac.org/fast-track-cities/about-fast-track/

###

IAPAC Welcomes Winnie Byanyima as New UNAIDS Executive Director

IAPAC Welcomes Winnie Byanyima as New UNAIDS Executive Director

Statement by Dr. José M. Zuniga
President/Chief Executive Officer, IAPAC
August 14, 2019 – Washington, DC, USA

On behalf of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), I welcome UN Secretary-General António Gutteres’ appointment of Winnie Byanyima to serve as the next Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). We call on her to leverage our forward momentum and work with and through UNAIDS’ many partners to expand upon local, national, and regional HIV responses for the benefit of every person living with and affected by HIV.

We are at a pivotal juncture in the global effort to stem the tide of new HIV infections and end AIDS-related deaths. The benefits of so much progress have not been shared universally, leaving significant numbers of people without access to life-saving treatment that can also prevent HIV transmission. All of us have a duty to ensure that no one is left behind in the global HIV response. We must sustain political commitment, avoid complacency, eliminate persistent HIV-related stigma, and maintain investments in data-driven and equity-based interventions. Ms. Byanyima enters her new role with a proven record of leadership on the global level and a fresh perspective that will serve UNAIDS well as we prepare to enter the fifth and hopefully final decade of the HIV epidemic.

We stand ready to strengthen our longstanding partnership with UNAIDS, including our 5-year collaboration with a growing network of more than 300 Fast-Track Cities that are working in solidarity to end their urban HIV epidemics. We also pledge to support Ms. Byanyima and the superb team of advocates and technicians that make up the global UNAIDS family, because our collective successes will save lives and ultimately lead to the end of the HIV epidemic.

# # #

With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. For more information about IAPAC and our global activities, visit: https://www.iapac.org/

IAPAC Responds to President Trump’s Call to End the US HIV Epidemic by 2030

 

 

 

IAPAC Responds to President Trump’s Call to End the US HIV Epidemic by 2030

Statement by Dr. José M. Zuniga
President/Chief Executive Officer, IAPAC
February 5, 2019 – Washington, DC, USA

“The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) supports President Trump’s commitment from his State of the Union address to end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030. The goal to end the US HIV epidemic is more than aspirational – it is achievable. We have the tools at our disposal to curb new HIV infections and end AIDS-related deaths. Among the barriers impeding our ability to leverage these tools are persistent HIV-related stigma and discrimination, the affordability of healthcare services, parallel mental health and substance use epidemics, and housing instability. Resolving these barriers requires the Trump Administration’s attention and the meaningful engagement of stakeholders, notably HIV-affected communities.

President Trump’s call to action can play a vital role in reaffirming the right of all Americans to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their HIV status, and their right to benefit from evidence-based HIV prevention, treatment, and supportive services. We call on the Trump Administration to focus its efforts and resources in communities that are heavily affected by HIV and among key populations that face intersectional challenges to their whole health and quality of life. Such a focus is a critical component of any new federal strategy to end the HIV epidemic in the United States.

Diverse stakeholders from 21 municipalities* across the United States have already joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative with more than 250 cities around the world to accelerate their local AIDS responses and end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. IAPAC will engage with affected communities, clinicians, and policymakers at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels to harmonize with and link our Fast-Track Cities work to renewed efforts by federal agencies to ensure that the US national HIV response leaves no American behind.”

###

With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Visit: www.iapac.org

*21 US cities, counties, and the District of Columbia are part of the Fast-Track Cities network, including Atlanta/Fulton County; Austin; Baltimore; Baton Rouge; Birmingham; Boston; Chicago; Metro Denver; Miami-Dade County; Minneapolis; New York; New Orleans; Oakland/Alameda County; Phoenix; Providence; San Antonio/Bexar County; and San Francisco. Columbia, SC, is slated to join the Fast-Track Cities network on February 7, 2019, as are several other priority U.S. cities later in the year. Visit www.iapac.org/fast-track-cities for more information.

Fast-Track Cities Gain Momentum in Efforts to Attain 90-90-90

For Immediate Release
December 4, 2018

Contact: Ace Robinson, MPH

Fast-Track Cities Gain Momentum in Efforts to Attain 90-90-90

12 Fast-Track City Dashboards launched on World AIDS Day

4 December 2018 (Washington, DC, USA) – Launched four years ago, the Fast-Track Cities initiative has as one of its objectives to assist cities to generate and report data related to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets. The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), one of the initiative’s core technical partners, today launched data dashboards for 12 Fast-Track Cities from multiple regions of the world, which report HIV care continuum baseline data for all cities and 90-90-90 data for eight cities. Ten additional cities updated their previously reported baseline data, demonstrating continued momentum in efforts to attain and surpass the 90-90-90 targets.

Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between highly HIV-affected cities and four core partners – UNAIDS, IAPAC, the City of Paris, and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) –with international partners and stakeholders focused on reducing local, national, and regional impact of HIV. More than 250 cities have signed the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities committing to reach the initiative’s 90-90-90 and zero stigma and discrimination targets by 2020.

The Fast-Track Cities approach includes utilizing epidemiological and programmatic data to efficiently respond to local HIV epidemics. IAPAC assists cities to generate and report their progress in helping their respective inhabitants/city-dwellers to access HIV testing and, if found to be living with HIV, to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieve viral suppression. These data are readily available to view via city-specific dashboards that reside on the Fast-Track Cities global web portal. The dashboards and web portal are curated by IAPAC and Dure Technologies, the association’s information technology partner.

“Thanks to the work of dedicated political and community leaders in Fast-Track Cities around the globe, we are witnessing unprecedented momentum towards attaining and surpassing the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets,” said Dr. José M. Zuniga, IAPAC President/CEO. “In publishing baseline and, subsequently, updated 90-90-90 data, the Fast-Track Cities dashboards communicate local and global momentum and hold stakeholders accountable for their progress.”

The UNAIDS theme for World AIDS Day 2018 is Know Your Status. The theme aligns directly with the first 90 target (awareness of HIV status) to empower all people living with HIV, but particularly those disproportionately affected by HIV, to access equitable care, treatment, and support services once they know their HIV status.

“This World AIDS Day not only encourages everyone to know their HIV status, it also marks 30 years of activism and solidarity. The Fast-Track Cities initiative embodies this activism and solidarity to ensure that everyone in cities can be reached with life-saving HIV services, a basic building block for urban health and a critical milestone in our journey towards ending AIDS,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

Twelve Fast-Track Cities dashboards were launched today for the cities of Athens, Bamako, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Johannesburg, Kingston, Libreville, Montréal, Oakland/Alameda County, and Quezon City. Each city’s dashboard features baseline HIV care continua and/or 90-90-90 data.

Following are 90-90-90 data reported by eight of the Fast-Track Cities by geographic region:

Jurisdiction 90-90-90 Fast-Track City Dashboard Link
Africa
Johannesburg 75-70-62 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/johannesburg
Libreville 70-87-NA http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/libreville
Asia-Pacific
Quezon City 69-48-26 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/quezon-city
Europe
Athens 82-87-81 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/athens
Berlin 89-94-93 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/berlin
Latin America and Caribbean
Buenos Aires NA-76-NA http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/buenos-aires
Kingston 93-45-66 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/kingston
North America
Montréal 86-97-92 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/montreal

*NA refers to data that have not yet been reported
*Four cities (Bamako, Dar es Salaam, Durban/eThekwini, Oakland/Alameda County) did not report 90-90-90 data but did report partial HIV care continuum data on their respective Fast-Track City dashboards

Several Fast-Track Cities updated their previously reported HIV care continua and/or 90-90-90 data from prior years. In nine of the 10 cities, progress was reported across one or more of the 90 targets and/or in relation to HIV care continuum indicators. Among the cities with the most pronounced progress are Bangkok (increase from 79% in 2016 to 91% in 2018 of people living with HIV aware of their HIV status); Kyiv (increase from 44% in 2016 to 66% in 2017 of ART coverage among people living with HIV aware of their status); and New Orleans (increase from 91% in 2016 to 97% in 2017 of people living with HIV on ART achieving viral suppression). London has attained the initiative’s subsequent 95-95-95 targets (95-98-97), and Nairobi County is the first jurisdiction to report 100% of PLHIV who know their status are on ART.

Following are updated 90-90-90 data for 10 Fast-Track Cities that had previously reported these data:

Jurisdiction 90-90-90 Fast-Track City Dashboard Link
Africa
Nairobi County 78-100-82 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/nairobi-county
Asia-Pacific
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration 91-70-76 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/bangkok
Europe
Amsterdam 95-94-94 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/amsterdam
Kyiv 55-66-73 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/kyiv
London 95-98-97 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/london
North America
Metro Denver 90-NA-90 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/metro-denver
Miami-Dade County 86-NA-NA http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/miami
New Orleans 87-66-97 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/new-orleans
New York City 93-86-93 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/new-york
San Francisco 94-79-94 http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities/san-francisco

*NA refers to data that have not yet been reported
*San Antonio/Bexar County launched their dashboard earlier this year with 86-72-86 (2017) as their “90-90-90” targets

The Fast-Track City dashboards launched today were made possible through grant support from ViiV Healthcare, the MAC AIDS Fund, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Merck & Co., and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

#  #  #

About Fast-Track Cities

Cities bear a large share of the global HIV burden. In countries with large HIV epidemics, the numbers of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in urban areas are so high that effective city-level action is likely to influence national outcomes. Even where an HIV epidemic is smaller, cities are home to large numbers of people belonging to key populations at higher risk of HIV, but which often receive limited attention in HIV programs. The Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between more than 250 high HIV burden cities, the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the city of Paris. The initiative was launched on World AIDS Day 2014 in Paris. For more information please visit: www.iapac.org/fast-track-cities

About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)

IAPAC was founded more than three decades ago with a mission to improve access to, and the quality of, prevention, care, treatment, and support services deliver to people living with and affected by HIV and comorbid diseases, including tuberculosis and viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV). With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals who are working to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. For more information, please visit: www.iapac.org