HIV Consortium receives contribution from AIDS Delaware

WILMINGTON — AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium have announced a joint $10,000 contribution to support the state’s forthcoming HIV Prevention Needs Assessment.

This assessment, by the Delaware HIV Planning Council, is critical to understanding the needs of the community in the fight against the spread of HIV.

The council, a federally mandated HIV advisory body, is dedicated to efforts to reduce the illness by improving HIV-related prevention and care services. It is funded by the Delaware Division of Public Health through a contract with the Delaware HIV Consortium and tasked with, among other things, informing the development, implementation and monitoring of the state’s Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan.

The 2024 HIV Prevention Needs Assessment is designed to gather data on the met and unmet needs of individuals who would benefit from accessing HIV risk reduction services, gaps in service provisions and barriers to accessing care. The study’s results will be used to advance Delaware’s HIV prevention strategies and programs.

The $10,000 donation will be used by the council to encourage robust participation of those at risk of acquiring HIV in the assessment. Funds will be used to provide everyone who submits the assessment survey a $20 gift card.

People who have experience using HIV prevention services — such as risk reduction counseling, HIV testing, preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), PrEP navigation, postexposure prophylaxis, harm reduction/syringe services programs or free condoms — or would consider themselves at elevated risk for HIV can participate in the assessment by accessing the questionnaire at surveymonkey.com/r/hivpreventionstudy.