Welcome at the official website of City and County of San Francisco Department of Public Health Community Health Equity & Promotion Branch Population Health Division – SFHIV. Our goal is to stop the spread of HIV in San Francisco by combining clinic and community-based initiatives. These initiatives are operated by our employees, community partners, and the Department of Public Health. SFHIV has collaborated with neighborhood groups and community people for more than 40 years to plan and administer HIV prevention services. We are pleased to contribute to San Francisco’s continued leadership in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
We create and provide services that effectively prevent HIV. These partnerships have worked really well. So, the San Francisco Model of public-private partnership for prevention is now recognized across the country.
Our goal is to decrease HIV infection through boosting health and empowering people and communities to have more control over factors that affect their well-being. We set some ambitious but doable objectives. And in 2022 we set ourselves new, large-scale and far-reaching goals.
HIV in San Francisco
Great progress has been made in recent years in extending access to treatment for all Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Nevertheless, there is still considerable work to be done, especially in light of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare consumption and diagnosis rates.
With an estimated 15,811 cases, San Francisco has one of the greatest numbers of HIV-positive people in the country. Nevertheless, San Francisco is succeeding in its mission of “Getting to Zero” new HIV diagnoses while drawing attention to the difficulties that drug users and those who are homeless confront.
According to new data, there were 160 new HIV infections in 2021, up 16% from 2020. The total number of new infections, however, is less than the 173 reported in 2019. Uncertainty exists regarding the causes of the increase in diagnoses since 2020. It’s possible that more people sought testing as the COVID-19 epidemic receded, and the lower figure in 2020 was an overestimate of new infections.
Of those newly diagnosed with HIV in 2021, 82% defined themselves as males, and 61% were men who have sex with men (MSM). Drug users, LGBTQ+, and transgender people are also categories especially vulnerable to HIV and AIDS.
HIV health equality deteriorated in 2021, particularly among the homeless who accounted for one-quarter of all new cases last year, the highest percentage of reported cases in at least ten years. Additionally, reflecting long-standing trends in HIV, new infection rates among Black and Latino males were around 3 times higher than for white men.
So – what exactly do we do with it?
Here, at SFHIV, we:
- Provide and assist HIV partner programs, condom distribution, clean needle availability, HIV testing and linkage to care, and educational initiatives aimed at reducing risky behavior.
- Conduct the meetings, give our partner groups financial support, technical assistance, education, and training.
- Develop programs like SEEDS and REBOOT in collaboration with the HIV Prevention Planning Council and other locals.
- Adapt strategies in light of HIV pandemic trends and new findings in preventative research.
- Review the programs’ performance on a continuing basis.
- Perform research on cutting-edge topics – HIV and male fertility, medicinal and recreational marijuana use for people with HIV or AIDS, how to pass a drug test with HIV, and many others.
HIV And Drug Usage
Since AIDS was first recognized as a disease, drug use and addiction have been inextricably linked to HIV/AIDS. One in ten HIV diagnoses among drug injectors, according to the CDC. Immune system is harmed by this virus, making it more difficult to fight against infections and diseases. Use of drugs or alcohol might weaken the immune system even more and make HIV infection even worse.
But on the other hand, marijuana’s alleged capacity to relieve a number of crippling symptoms may also be a role in the popularity of medicinal marijuana among people with AIDS. Many of these patients said that cannabis calmed their stomachs, boosted their appetites, reduced their pain, and improved their mood.
HIV causes havoc throughout the body because it destroys the immune system. The virus also causes dementia, severe nerve damage, and a potentially fatal wasting syndrome in addition to giving cancer and opportunistic infection a footing. Finally, many persons with AIDS experience anxiety and sadness in addition to the physical discomforts caused by HIV. Some patients claim that marijuana alleviates all of these issues and more.
This issue is difficult and complex. But, anyway, people with HIV often want to get a good job. So often we hear one question in our meetings: how to pass a drug test for weed? There are various approaches for this, and each has its pros and cons. The best advice is, of course, to stay out of drugs: in most cases they won’t bring any good to anyone. But in case of a critical need to pass a drug test you may do it – even after smoking some weed occasionally. There are solutions like Toxin Rid that will aid you.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
HIV and AIDS are surely the most dangerous sexually transmitted diseases (STD). If we’re talking about HIV transmission, unprotected sex may be extremely risky. It could be transmitted during a sexual interaction if no preventative measures are taken and the HIV-positive person does not have an undetectable viral load.
Additionally, let’s not forget that other STDs can pose a serious concern. If you have an STD, your chance of getting HIV increases. Testing is crucial for ensuring early discovery, prompt treatment, and the halting of STD transmission. You might be able to determine your status without visiting the doctor with the use of an effective at-home STD test kit. Of course, if it picks up anything, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
HIV And Male Fertility
Numerous harmful effects on health are caused by HIV and AIDS. As the immune system gets destroyed by the virus, your body experiences various issues. One of the effects could be a drop in sperm count and semen volume. Throughout our conversations with men, this issue was frequently brought up. And we must add that modern medical drugs allow HIV-positive males the opportunity to feel confident there Some men genuinely desire to increase seminal fluid and volume through medication. It’s just in the name of confidence and masculinity.
Bottom Line
If you live in San Francisco and are HIV-positive, we’d love to help you. Our support groups will help you find like-minded people, and our clinical initiatives may give you access to modern medications. Join our fight with HIV and AIDS, and let “Getting to Zero” succeed!
