Dear Colleague Letter

Dear Colleague,

Today, CDC released a suite of communication tools and resources that support our ongoing efforts to prevent HIV and help people with HIV stay healthy. The new and revised tools also support the work of the proposed HHS initiative, Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America. CDC’s role in the initiative includes working closely with other HHS agencies, local and state governments, communities, and people with HIV to coordinate efforts to expand key HIV strategies. While communities will develop plans based on their own needs, they will focus on four key strategies: Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, and Respond. The resources unveiled today can assist communities in each of these four key areas.

The suite of resources includes:

• A new website for the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign. CDC’s 10-year campaign, Act Against AIDS, has undergone a name change to Let’s Stop HIV Together. Those familiar with Act Against AIDS may recognize Let’s Stop HIV Together as the name of the anti-stigma efforts under that campaign. The campaign consists of resources and partnerships aimed at stopping HIV stigmaand promoting HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. Let’s Stop HIV Togetherempowers communities, partners on the ground, and health care providers to reduce stigma among all Americans, prevent HIV among the hardest-hit populations, and help people with HIV stay healthy.

• A new HIV Nexus website that provides clinicians with a credible source of information to help them stay abreast of the latest HIV recommendations and research, diagnose and treat patients as early as possible, and prevent new HIV transmissions. HIV Nexus will also support clinicians in communicating with patients and caregivers about HIV prevention, screening, and treatment.

• A combined HIV prevention services locator widget. The new widget combines four key HIV prevention services (HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, and condoms) in one locator. Through the locator widget, users can find HIV prevention services near them with a simple zip code search.

• A new CDC HIV home page that guides visitors to unique content for consumers, clinicians, and public health partners. You will find the familiar CDC HIV prevention information, tools and resources under the Public Health Partners section.

Another resource coming later this month, is an updated and redesigned HIV Risk Reduction Tool created to deliver comprehensive, accurate, and timely information about HIV, its risk factors, and ways to prevent HIV transmission and acquisition. The HIV Risk Reduction Tool’s content can be tailored based on gender, gender of sex partners, and HIV status.

The resources released today will equip communities, health care providers, and partners with the tools, information, and resources needed to support their vital work. We encourage you to share these resources with your colleagues and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to end the HIV epidemic in America.

Sincerely,

/Eugene McCray/

Eugene McCray, MD
Director
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov/hiv