CONNECTIONS
A Bimonthly e-Newsletter
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Director's Update

May - June 2014

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), June 27, is not just an awareness day, it is a day of action. This is the one day a year when we act together across the country to get people tested for HIV. It is a critical step in our efforts to end this disease, and it is the easiest one to take. Testing helps people take action to remain HIV-free or to navigate the continuum of care if positive for the disease. Testing also leads to another action, that of protection through evidence-based prevention methods including PrEP for those who are HIV negative, or through treatment for those who are HIV positive; treatment that can lower viral load and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others. I encourage you to take time now to make plans for action on National HIV Testing Day. Register your event on the NHTD site and make sure others know about what you are doing. Let’s make NHTD a day of awareness, action, and success in setting and reaching testing goals!

Hepatitis Awareness Month

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19th is the 3rd annual Hepatitis Testing Day. During May, CDC and public health partners work to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and to remind health care providers and the public who should be tested. CDC’s online Hepatitis Risk Assessment can be used to determine whether or not a person should be tested and/or vaccinated for hepatitis. CDC and CDC NPIN have also launched a Hepatitis Testing Day Event page, where people can enter their zip code to search for testing events in their area. Please join CDC in observing Hepatitis Awareness Month by calling attention to viral hepatitis and urging those at risk to get tested. You can also help spread the word with the free online resources. Additionally, learn more about what can be done to combat viral hepatitis by helping implement the new 2014 HHS Viral Hepatitis Action Plan.

New Website Launched on Health System Changes

Today, May 5, NCHHSTP launched the Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and TB Through Health Care Website, an online resource to help state, local, and tribal public health agencies, community-based organizations, and other partners leverage changes in the health system to strengthen the delivery of HIV, viral hepatitis, STD, and TB preventive services. Guided by the approaches outlined in the Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and TB Through Health Care: Supporting Health Departments – Next Steps, the website offers the following three sub-websites to guide development of a fully integrated approach to address NCHHSTP program objectives through the provision of health care: Health Departments; Preventive Service Tables; Resources on the Changing Health Care System. The website will evolve and expand with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the availability of new information and resources, and input received from NCHHSTP staff, health departments, community-based organizations, and other NCHHSTP partners. I hope you will take time to review this site and share broadly.