HIV Prevention Activities

Content From: HIV.govUpdated: May 20, 20179 min read

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Reducing New HIV Infections

An estimated 37,600 HIV infections are diagnosed each year, according to the most recent CDC data. The Federal approach to reducing new HIV infections is based on the best available scientific evidence and modeling studies have informed decisions about the allocation of resources with regard to the strategies employed, geography, and the populations at greatest risk. In short, these data have indicated that the best ways to prevent new HIV infections are to ensure timely diagnosis and engagement in care and treatment for those who are living with HIV to increase the percentage of persons with HIV who have achieved viral suppression; target prevention resources to the places with the largest burden of disease and populations at greatest risk; and ensure that the most effective prevention strategies are prioritized and widely implemented.

Activities of the Federal government also include research to evaluate new prevention methods (such as vaccines, microbicides, and long-acting formulations of pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP and to improve the efficient and effective delivery of HIV prevention, care, and treatment. In addition, the Federal government supports a range of services that are essential for reducing risk behavior and making it possible for people living with HIV to be maintained in HIV medical care and treatment. These include substance abuse treatment and other behavioral health services, housing assistance, transportation, and other services shown to address risks associated with HIV transmission or interfere with the ability of people living with HIV to achieve viral suppression. This evidence-based approach is reflected in the updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy that incorporates the latest scientific evidence. The first goal of the strategy is to reduce new HIV infections. Across the federal government, agencies are engaged in a wide variety of efforts to prevent HIV acquisition and transmission. Results show that new HIV infections have  declined overall, in most subgroups, and in all states for which data are available. Exceptions are some subgroups of men who have sex with men.

HIV Does Not Impact All Americans Equally

While anyone can become infected with or, if they are living with HIV and have not achieved viral suppression, transmit HIV, the epidemic in the U.S. is concentrated in certain key populations and geographic areas:

  • Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men of all races and ethnicities (with a particularly high burden of HIV among African American/Black gay and bisexual men)
  • African American/Black women and men
  • Latino men and women
  • People who inject drugs
  • Youth aged 13 to 24 years (with a particularly high burden of HIV among young African American/Black gay and bisexual men)
  • People in the Southern United States
  • Transgender women (with a particularly high burden of HIV among African American/Black transgender women)

The HIV Prevention Toolbox Has Grown

There are now more options than ever before to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV and the newest methods are even more effective than those that were available earlier. These include personal actions that people can take to protect themselves like abstinence, having only one partner with the same HIV status, and choosing less risky behaviors, as well as risk reduction tools, services, and interventions that are delivered by health care providers, public health departments, community-based organizations and others. Currently available tools that have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of HIV transmission or acquisition include:

  • HIV Testing (to detect undiagnosed infection)
  • HIV Medications to Prevention Transmission
    • Treatment as Prevention
    • Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission
    • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
    • Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
  • Interventions to Improve Access to Prevention Tools
    • Syringe Services Programs
    • Laws Allowing Sterile Syringe Purchase
    • Condom Distribution Programs
  • Drug Treatment (including Medication Assisted Therapy)
  • STD diagnosis and treatment
  • Medical Male Circumcision

Mass media campaigns, behavioral interventions, medication reminders, and other strategies have been shown to effectively encourage people to adopt and maintain risk reduction strategies including condom use, adherence to HIV treatment, and sterile injection practices. Education, training, and capacity building for health care providers are also important activities that can improve the ability of health care providers and systems and community-based organizations and their staff to provide high quality HIV prevention, care, and treatment services efficiency and effectively.

For example, final results from research funded by the National Institutes of Health that were released in 2016 provided the most compelling evidence to date that early HIV treatment reduces HIV transmission by 93% among heterosexual couples. Other studies have reported similar findings in diverse populations that included gay and bisexual men. Most importantly, none of these studies has found a case where HIV was transmitted sexually by someone with a suppressed viral load.  These research findings, coupled with the results of earlier studies showing that starting HIV treatment as early as possible is good for the health of people living with HIV and modeling studies that have been done to predict the impact that various interventions can have on HIV transmission, make “treatment as prevention” the top priority of the Federal response to HIV in the United States.

Given this priority, a wide range of Federally funded programs conducted by CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA, VA, Medicaid, Medicare, the Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Prisons, and others provide HIV testing, linkage to HIV care, retention in care, and adherence to care. Federally funded programs also support the provision of HIV care and treatment through HRSA’s Ryan White Care Act Program that provides services to about half of all living people who have been diagnosed with HIV. Other Federally funded efforts provide HIV medical care in health centers, support the training of health care providers and other allied health professional, and provide behavioral health, housing, transportation, employment, legal assistance, and other services that make it possible for people living with HIV to achieve the outcomes in HIV care that are necessary to prevent emergency room visits, hospitalizations, illness, disability, and death as well as the onward transmission of HIV. Read about Federal HIV Care and Treatment Activities.

NIH-funded research has also proven the important role that HIV medications can play when taken by someone who does not have the virus to prevent infection.Multiple studies have shown that taking PrEP, a daily antiretroviral pill, is more than 90% effective in preventing HIV acquisition if it is used as prescribed. It can also reduce infection by 70% or more among people who inject drugs. Multiple program across the Federal government provide education about PrEP to health care providers and community members and provide laboratory testing, medications, and other services that improve access to PrEP. A comprehensive framework to improve access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (HIV PrEP Framework) serves as a blueprint for Federal activities to scale up PrEP as a strategy to prevent HIV transmission and reduce new infections in the United States.

Research has also shown other methods that can effectively reduce HIV risk and in many cases are cost saving, including access to condoms and sterile syringes, substance abuse treatment, screening and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections, as well as choosing less risky sexual behaviors and limiting one’s number of sexual partners.

HIV Testing: A Key Prevention Strategy

Widespread HIV testing, timely diagnosis, and linkage to treatment and care remain critical to Federal HIV prevention efforts and to Federal efforts to improve the health of people living with HIV. HIV testing is the only way to identify the nearly one in seven Americans currently living with HIV in 2014 who did not know they had HIV. Not knowing that they had the virus placed these women and men at risk for serious health problems and premature death, and for unknowingly transmitting the virus to others. Today, new HIV testing technologies have enhanced our ability to diagnose HIV sooner after infection and have broadened the window of opportunity for effective interventions during the acute phase of infection—a time immediately after infection when HIV viral load is high and increases the risk of HIV transmission to others. Early diagnosis and linkage to treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) also substantially improves health outcomes for people living with HIV, making it possible for someone in their 20s who is diagnosed and begins HIV treatment soon after infection to live practically as long as a peer who does not have HIV. HIV treatment is also a powerful and highly effective prevention tool that significantly reduces the risk of onward HIV transmission. Read about Federal HIV Testing Activities

National Priority: Reduce New HIV Infections

Scientific advances in HIV prevention have fundamentally changed our ability to prevent new infections and the approaches that are needed to make this happen. These led to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Updated to 2020 that is based on this evidence and calls for intensified prevention efforts in communities where HIV is most heavily concentrated; expanded efforts to prevent HIV infection using a combination of effective, evidence-based approaches; and sustained efforts to educate all Americans about HIV risks, prevention, and transmission. Research on the effects of HIV medical care, treatment, and the effects of housing, food instability, and other factors on the ability of people to stay in care and take HIV medications as prescribed were also addressed in the updated Strategy. The updated Strategy also calls for steps to ensure timely linkage to and retention in medical care and social services that can both maximize the benefits of early treatment for people living with HIV and prevent transmission of new infections.

Additional efforts focus on continuing to improve the response to HIV among racial and ethnic minority groups that have been hit hardest by HIV. The Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) serves as an important resource to improve HHS agencies and offices’ ability to improve HIV-related outcomes and reduce HIV-related disparities among racial and ethnic minority communities. Established by Congress in 1999, the legislation allocates MAI resources to the CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA and the HHS Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative Fund (SMAIF). Resources awarded to HHS agencies support the delivery of services that are designed to complement, not duplicate, those supported by other funding. Two of areas of special emphasis of the MAI are building capacity of community-based organizations and improving the quality of care. The SMAIF plays a unique role in improving the quality of prevention and care for racial and ethnic minorities. SMAIF supports cross-agency demonstrations and agency-administered projects that serve as laboratories of innovation, testing out new approaches before innovations are introduced more broadly across prevention, testing, or care systems. The work includes evaluating how efficiency and quality of services can be improved to better serve people who need HIV services. Current SMAIF-supported demonstration projects help health departments implement PrEP for gay and bisexual men of color and help health centers expand HIV testing. The successes generated from SMAIF activities create lasting changes across the Federal HIV prevention and care portfolio, improving efficiency, further reducing HIV infection, and saving lives and health care dollars.

Across the Federal government, agencies are developing, planning, and implementing these and other HIV prevention programs targeted to populations at risk; disseminating educational resources and messages on HIV risks and prevention; educating health care professionals about evidence-based HIV prevention strategies; conducting research to develop, test, and improve cutting-edge tools and techniques that can prevent HIV in diverse populations around the world; and numerous other activities to achieve the vision of a future free of new HIV infections.

Scroll down to read about the HIV prevention activities of individual agencies and offices.

Federal Agencies' Prevention Activities

Family and Youth Services Bureau works to disseminate information on HIV risks and prevention strategies to organizations and agencies serving victims of domestic violence, as well as to develop resources on the intersection between intimate partner violence and HIV, and disseminate these to Family Violence Prevention and Services Act grantees. In addition, the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Program funds evidence-based adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention programs that include a significant focus on HIV awareness and risk reduction.

Learn more about ACF’s HIV prevention efforts.

View ACF's activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) leads its HIV/AIDS activities. NCHHSTP’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention is charged with the mission of preventing HIV infection and reducing the incidence of HIV-related illness and death.

CDC pursues a High Impact Prevention approach that focuses on delivering combinations of scientifically proven, cost-effective, and scalable interventions—including HIV testing, ongoing care and treatment for people living with HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, a daily anti-HIV pill for people at high risk of HIV) and condoms—to the populations that are most heavily affected by the epidemic.

CDC’s HIV prevention activities include:

  • Developing, planning, and implementing evidence-based HIV prevention strategies in collaboration with state and local partners.
  • Monitoring HIV prevention activities and policies.
  • Strengthening the capabilities of the HIV prevention workforce.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness, cost, and impact of HIV prevention interventions, strategies, and policies.
  • Developing and disseminating communications on HIV and its prevention, including the Act Against AIDS campaign, Start Talking. Stop HIV.
  • Conducting research to develop and test HIV prevention interventions.
  • Monitoring, interpreting, and disseminating data related to HIV trends to inform future prevention efforts.

Also within CDC, NCHHSTP’s Division of Adolescent and School Health provides funding and technical assistance that enables state and local education agencies to deliver evidence-based HIV and STD prevention programs in schools.

Learn more about CDC’s HIV prevention efforts.

View CDC’s activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

ACF Logo

Administration for Children and Families

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities with partnerships, funding, guidance, training, and technical assistance.

Within ACF, the Family and Youth Services Bureau works to disseminate information on HIV risks and prevention strategies to organizations and agencies serving victims of domestic violence, as well as to develop resources on the intersection between intimate partner violence and HIV, and disseminate these to Family Violence Prevention and Services Act grantees. In addition, the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Program funds evidence-based adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention programs that include a significant focus on HIV awareness and risk reduction.

Learn more about ACF’s HIV prevention efforts.

View ACF's activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

ACL Logo

Administration for Community Living

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living (ACL) works to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, people with disabilities across the lifespan, and their families and caregivers..

Within ACL, the Administration on Aging (AoA) supports programs that help older adults remain healthy and independent in their communities. AoA supports a national network providing older adults with meals, transportation, information and referrals, and much more. Older adults, their families, and caregivers can connect to services through the Eldercare Locator.

ACL disseminates information on HIV and its prevention to older adults and the professionals who work with them. Among its resources is the Older Adults and HIV/AIDS Toolkit. The toolkit contains informational materials for older adults and clinicians about HIV for older people, as well as communications and outreach materials encouraging older adults to know their HIV status.

Learn more about ACL’s HIV/AIDS and aging work.
View ACL's activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

CDC Logo

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety, and security threats. CDC provides leadership in helping control the HIV/AIDS epidemic by working with community, state, national, and international partners in surveillance, research, prevention, and evaluation activities, as well as by working to improve treatment and support for people living with HIV.

Within CDC, the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) leads its HIV/AIDS activities. NCHHSTP’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention is charged with the mission of preventing HIV infection and reducing the incidence of HIV-related illness and death.

CDC pursues a High Impact Prevention approach that focuses on delivering combinations of scientifically proven, cost-effective, and scalable interventions—including HIV testing, ongoing care and treatment for people living with HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, a daily anti-HIV pill for people at high risk of HIV) and condoms—to the populations that are most heavily affected by the epidemic.

CDC’s HIV prevention activities include:

  • Developing, planning, and implementing evidence-based HIV prevention strategies in collaboration with state and local partners.
  • Monitoring HIV prevention activities and policies.
  • Strengthening the capabilities of the HIV prevention workforce.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness, cost, and impact of HIV prevention interventions, strategies, and policies.
  • Developing and disseminating communications on HIV and its prevention, including the Act Against AIDS campaign, Start Talking. Stop HIV.
  • Conducting research to develop and test HIV prevention interventions.
  • Monitoring, interpreting, and disseminating data related to HIV trends to inform future prevention efforts.

Also within CDC, NCHHSTP’s Division of Adolescent and School Health provides funding and technical assistance that enables state and local education agencies to deliver evidence-based HIV and STD prevention programs in schools.

Learn more about CDC’s HIV prevention efforts.

View CDC’s activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

Military Health System (MHS) weaves together health care delivery, medical education, public health, private sector partnerships, and cutting edge medical research and development. Its HIV testing activities include offering routine HIV screening and linkage to medical care for military personnel and eligible DoD beneficiaries; providing educational resources and information about HIV prevention, testing, and treatment; and issuing policies related to HIV screening and linkage to care for military service members.)

Learn more about the Military Health System.

View DoD's activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

National HIV/AIDS Program coordinates and promotes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities specific to AI/AN people as part of a comprehensive public health approach. The goals of the HIV/AIDS Program are to prevent further spread of HIV and to improve health outcomes for those already living with HIV. The program’s efforts include identifying new approaches to implement effective prevention interventions; developing HIV prevention and care standards and performance measures; reducing and preventing new infections by communicating public health messages on the importance of knowing ones’ HIV status; and increasing routine HIV screening.

Learn more about IHS' HIV/AIDS Program.

View IHS' activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

Office of AIDS Research (OAR) coordinates the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of the trans-NIH HIV/AIDS-related research program. OAR a component of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the NIH Director, supports the development of up-to-date HHS guidelines for the treatment of HIV infection, and the prevention and treatment of HIV-associated opportunistic infections. The guidelines are developed and regularly updated by working groups of HIV experts from across the country, including physicians, other health care clinical providers, pharmacists, researchers, and HIV treatment advocates. These clinical guidelines outline the current science and recommendations for treatment of HIV disease (e.g., antiretroviral therapy, treatment, and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections) as well as guidelines for conducting HIV testing and counseling.

Within NIH, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) leads research to understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Through laboratories and clinics on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and a vast network of supported research at universities, medical centers, and clinical trial sites around the globe, the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) in NIAID is working to develop and improve cutting-edge tools and techniques to prevent HIV in diverse populations around the world.

In addition, NIH is made up of 26 other different Institutes and Centers. Each has its own specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems, and most address HIV/AIDS in some way, according to their particular area of expertise.

Learn more about NIH’s HIV/AIDS Research Program.

Learn more about NIH’s role in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

DoD Logo

Department of Defense

The mission of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. Within the DoD, the Military Health System (MHS) weaves together health care delivery, medical education, public health, private sector partnerships, and cutting edge medical research and development. Its HIV testing activities include offering routine HIV screening and linkage to medical care for military personnel and eligible DoD beneficiaries; providing educational resources and information about HIV prevention, testing, and treatment; and issuing policies related to HIV screening and linkage to care for military service members.)

Learn more about the Military Health System.

View DoD's activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

IHS Logo

Indian Health Service

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service (IHS) is responsible for providing comprehensive federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level.

IHS’ National HIV/AIDS Program coordinates and promotes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities specific to AI/AN people as part of a comprehensive public health approach. The goals of the HIV/AIDS Program are to prevent further spread of HIV and to improve health outcomes for those already living with HIV. The program’s efforts include identifying new approaches to implement effective prevention interventions; developing HIV prevention and care standards and performance measures; reducing and preventing new infections by communicating public health messages on the importance of knowing ones’ HIV status; and increasing routine HIV screening.

Learn more about IHS' HIV/AIDS Program.

View IHS' activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

DOI Logo

U.S. Department of the Interior

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) protects America's natural resources and heritage, honors our cultures and Tribal communities, and supplies the energy to power our future.

Within the Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs provides services (directly or through contracts, grants, or compacts) to approximately 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Bureau’s HIV prevention work includes developing policy documents and technical assistance materials for educators serving AI/AN populations to support local-level delivery of age-appropriate HIV and STI prevention education.

Learn more about DOI’s Bureau of Indian Affairs

View DOI's activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

NIH Logo

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency—making important medical discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH-funded scientists investigate ways to prevent disease and conduct research on both common and rare diseases to discover their causes, develop effective treatments, and find cures. NIH represents the largest and most significant public investment in HIV/AIDS research in the world. Almost all of the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) conduct and support basic, clinical, behavioral, social science, and translational research that addresses the prevention and treatment of HIV disease and its associated coinfections, comorbidities, and other complications.

NIH’s Office of AIDS Research (OAR) coordinates the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of the trans-NIH HIV/AIDS-related research program. OAR a component of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the NIH Director, supports the development of up-to-date HHS guidelines for the treatment of HIV infection, and the prevention and treatment of HIV-associated opportunistic infections. The guidelines are developed and regularly updated by working groups of HIV experts from across the country, including physicians, other health care clinical providers, pharmacists, researchers, and HIV treatment advocates. These clinical guidelines outline the current science and recommendations for treatment of HIV disease (e.g., antiretroviral therapy, treatment, and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections) as well as guidelines for conducting HIV testing and counseling.

Within NIH, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) leads research to understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Through laboratories and clinics on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and a vast network of supported research at universities, medical centers, and clinical trial sites around the globe, the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) in NIAID is working to develop and improve cutting-edge tools and techniques to prevent HIV in diverse populations around the world.

In addition, NIH is made up of 26 other different Institutes and Centers. Each has its own specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems, and most address HIV/AIDS in some way, according to their particular area of expertise.

Learn more about NIH’s HIV/AIDS Research Program.

Learn more about NIH’s role in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

Office of AIDS Research (OAR) coordinates the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of the trans-NIH HIV/AIDS-related research program. OAR a component of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the NIH Director, supports the development of up-to-date HHS guidelines for the treatment of HIV infection, and the prevention and treatment of HIV-associated opportunistic infections. The guidelines are developed and regularly updated by working groups of HIV experts from across the country, including physicians, other health care clinical providers, pharmacists, researchers, and HIV treatment advocates. These clinical guidelines outline the current science and recommendations for treatment of HIV disease (e.g., antiretroviral therapy, treatment, and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections) as well as guidelines for conducting HIV testing and counseling.

Within NIH, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) leads research to understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Through laboratories and clinics on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and a vast network of supported research at universities, medical centers, and clinical trial sites around the globe, the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) in NIAID is working to develop and improve cutting-edge tools and techniques to prevent HIV in diverse populations around the world.

In addition, NIH is made up of 26 other different Institutes and Centers. Each has its own specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems, and most address HIV/AIDS in some way, according to their particular area of expertise.

Learn more about NIH’s HIV/AIDS Research Program.

Learn more about NIH’s role in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

Learn more about SAMHSA’s HIV/AIDS Activities.

View SAMHSA activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

OASH Logo

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency—making important medical discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH-funded scientists investigate ways to prevent disease and conduct research on both common and rare diseases to discover their causes, develop effective treatments, and find cures. NIH represents the largest and most significant public investment in HIV/AIDS research in the world. Almost all of the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) conduct and support basic, clinical, behavioral, social science, and translational research that addresses the prevention and treatment of HIV disease and its associated coinfections, comorbidities, and other complications.

NIH’s Office of AIDS Research (OAR) coordinates the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of the trans-NIH HIV/AIDS-related research program. OAR a component of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the NIH Director, supports the development of up-to-date HHS guidelines for the treatment of HIV infection, and the prevention and treatment of HIV-associated opportunistic infections. The guidelines are developed and regularly updated by working groups of HIV experts from across the country, including physicians, other health care clinical providers, pharmacists, researchers, and HIV treatment advocates. These clinical guidelines outline the current science and recommendations for treatment of HIV disease (e.g., antiretroviral therapy, treatment, and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections) as well as guidelines for conducting HIV testing and counseling.

Within NIH, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) leads research to understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Through laboratories and clinics on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and a vast network of supported research at universities, medical centers, and clinical trial sites around the globe, the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) in NIAID is working to develop and improve cutting-edge tools and techniques to prevent HIV in diverse populations around the world.

In addition, NIH is made up of 26 other different Institutes and Centers. Each has its own specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems, and most address HIV/AIDS in some way, according to their particular area of expertise.

Learn more about NIH’s HIV/AIDS Research Program.

Learn more about NIH’s role in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

People who misuse drugs and/or alcohol are at a greater risk of contracting or transmitting HIV. In addition, lack of HIV treatment can impact mental health and lead to mental health disorders, which can delay or interfere with HIV treatment. Therefore, SAMHSA works to ensure that individuals who are at high risk for or who have mental and/or substance use disorders and who are at high risk for or are living with HIV/AIDS have access to and receive appropriate behavioral health services. Among SAMHSA’s many HIV prevention activities are SAMHSA-funded grants to support HIV prevention and education for people at risk for or living with mental and/or substance use disorders, including youth and young adults, minority communities, men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender individuals. SAMHSA also disseminates information to grantees about prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and provides training in how to link patients in behavioral health programs to these prevention tools. Further, in accordance with Federal, State, Tribal, and local laws, SAMHSA educates and supports planning for communities on risk reduction, including the misuse of injectable drugs.

Learn more about SAMHSA’s HIV/AIDS Activities.

View SAMHSA activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

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Department of Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) serves and honors the men and women who are America’s veterans. The VA is the largest single provider of medical care to people with HIV in the United States. VA's efforts in this area are led by the HIV, Hepatitis, and Human Pathogens Programs, under the direction of Patient Care Services whose mission is to provide the highest quality, comprehensive care to Veterans and to have that care recognized as the standard by which all health care in the United States is measured. This includes patient care activities, clinician and patient education, prevention activities, and research directed at continuous improvement of medical and preventive services and delivery of care to veterans.

VA’s HIV/AIDS efforts, carried out by VA medical facilities across the country, take a comprehensive approach that includes:

  • Screening for risk of HIV infection
  • Testing for those at risk
  • Education for patients and their families
  • Giving providers access to the best available information about HIV
  • Excellence in clinical care
  • Support for research to improve clinical care
  • Ongoing quality improvement

Learn more about VA’s HIV/AIDS efforts.

View VA activities in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.