WELD COUNTY, Colo. — Colorado counties with the most new cases of HIV are getting funding from the state.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is giving out grants to help increase testing and prevention efforts. The goal is to get 95% of the population tested so they know their status around HIV.
"It’s going to allow us to increase our testing, really support those that have a recent diagnosis of HIV and connecting them with care," said Shaun May, public health services director for the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE).
May said WCDPHE will receive $100,000 in grant funding for the next year. Then, they'll get $125,000 per year for the next four years.
He said the money will be used for testing, as well as pre- and post-exposure treatments to reduce the risk of contracting HIV. Anyone with a new diagnosis or living with HIV will receive support and access to treatments.
"We’re going to be able to do what they call opt-out testing. In other words, for all those folks coming in regardless of what is the purpose of our interaction with them, we’re going to be able to offer them free HIV screening, which is really great," said May. "We’re also going to assess their risk and see if it’s appropriate for pre-exposure vaccines to help them from contacting HIV."
Along with Weld County, Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer and Pueblo counties will also be receiving funding for HIV prevention. May said counties with the most new cases of HIV are getting grants. He said numbers from CDPHE show an increase in new cases along the Interstate 25 corridor, where the population is growing and moving.
May said this funding will help them have a higher impact on HIV prevention in the county.
"We're going to be able to provide linkage to support services for all those that are living with or without HIV and so I think it's not just these biomedical interventions, it's all the navigation and connecting those with care," he said.
To schedule an appoint with WCDPHE you can call 970-400-6420.