Amida Care

Dear Colleagues:   As you may know, this Sunday March 10 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), an annual observance led by the Office on Women’s Health, with this year’s theme being Prevention and Testing at Every Age. Care and Treatment at Every Stage. At Amida Care, we continue to work to ensure that women are included in discussions about HIV prevention and treatment.   As statistics show, women—especially women of color—remain heavily impacted, representing approximately 23% of people living with HIV in the U.S. According to the latest New York City report, of all women newly diagnosed with HIV, 84% were either Black or Latina. Additionally, 94% of all transgender people who were newly diagnosed with HIV in NYC were transgender women, the vast majority being trans women of color.    Aside from being too often left out from HIV outreach and education efforts, women can put the health and care of others before their own needs. The latest CDC data on PrEP uptake among women shows that only 10% of women who could benefit from PrEP were prescribed it. Further, recent research has shown that less than 2% of eligible Black cisgender women are taking PrEP, even though they are placed at elevated risk for HIV. According to Sylvia Cowan, Amida Care’s Vice President of Customer Experience, Growth and Retention: “Prevention can be easy for women who are HIV negative. Many women engage in unprotected sex, but don’t know about PrEP or don’t think it’s for them. We must extend the conversation we’re having with men about PrEP to women. Many women think that PrEP is only for guys and many older women in the community mistakenly think that they’re not impacted by HIV. Ladies, PrEP is also for you! As we mark National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, let’s recommit to addressing inequities that women have faced for far too long. This must include more targeted interventions and resources for women to take the steps they need to stay healthy. Together, we can ensure that women can access the resources and care they need, and we can see an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”  In celebrating of elevating the voice of women impacted by HIV and leading the way toward ending the HIV epidemic for all communities, Doug https://lnkd.in/ewnFs47Q

I’m excited to share that I’ve been named to the PoliticsNY and AMNY's 2023 Metro Power Players in Health Care list, which salutes New York State’s top leaders in health care. The list honors the public officials, business executives, and community leaders who are shaping the future of the city and the state, and who envision a better health care future for all New Yorkers. Congratulations to my fellow honorees! Read more: https://lnkd.in/e38f8TFw

Amida Care is proud to join with an amazing Coalition to launch a new campaign during NY State Department of Health’s PrEP Aware Week (Oct. 23-29). “Your Body, Your Life, Your PrEP - #PrEPforYourLife (Tu Cuerpo, Tu Vida, Tu PrEP - #PrEPporTuVida)” focuses on the transgender, gender-nonconforming, and non-binary (TGNCNB) community, which is disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. We’re thrilled to work with fellow Coalition members Colectivo Transgrediendo, Community Healthcare Network (CHN), Destination Tomorrow, New Pride Agenda and TransLatinx Network on this yearlong initiative to increase PrEP uptake to help end the HIV epidemic. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eiN-4g4f