There’s a big difference between finding a doctor (which is difficult enough!) and feeling comfortable enough to stick with them. Since 2010, there have been encouraging improvements in the number of people living with HIV who connect to care and those who become viral suppressed. However, the number people who are actively engaged in care or stay in care has decreased. Here’s the math: In 2018, 75% of persons newly diagnosed with HIV were linked to care within1 month. At year-end 2019, 7 in 10 PLWH (people living with HIV) were engaged in care, 5 in 10 were retained in care, and 6 in 10 were virally suppressed.
Linkage to HIV care is critically important to make sure that people stay healthy and reach undetectable viral loads, which can help stop the spread of the virus, but it’s just the first step. At APLA Health, we create care plans that place the person front and center, not the virus. We provide guidance on antiretroviral medication and help people stick to their medication.
