Getting to Zero is a collaborative initiative among HIV medical providers, community-based organizations, and state and local health departments that aims to reduce new HIV infections and HIV-related stigma, with the ultimate goal of zero HIV-related deaths in Utah.
There is one case of HIV diagnosed in Utah every three days (roughly 120 new infections diagnosed a year).
We talked with Kelsey Genovesse PA-C, MPAS, with University of Utah Infectious Disease about the initiative.
She says Getting to Zero will focus on four key domains: Test, Treat, Prevent, and Respond.
TEST
Ending HIV infections and deaths in Utah starts with more people getting tested and knowing their status.
TREAT
Ensuring people living with HIV have access to the care and medications they need will prevent new infections and reduce HIV-related deaths.
PREVENT
By increasing access to PrEP and other resources, we can prevent many new HIV infections from ever occurring happening. (PrEP is an HIV prevention strategy that can be taken every day to significantly reduce the likelihood of acquiring HIV.)
RESPOND
We can prevent new HIV clusters and outbreaks with rapid access to care and cohesive efforts to identify potential exposures, we can prevent new HIV clusters and outbreaks.
The Utah Health Department has created a website full of resources to help people with these resources. It is called HIV and Me and can be found at hivandme.com.
