Rising HIV rates among the Latino population in Florida were a topic of conversation as the state announced new funding to end the epidemic. In fact, a total of more than $490,000 in federal funding is going to seven Florida counties over the next 10 years to bolster their efforts to fight HIV, reports WUSF news.

The Florida funding became available October 1, but Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez announced the aid on October 15 to coincide with National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). As WUSF news reports, Nuñez said the state has seen an “incredible increase” in HIV rates among the Latino population. Latinos in Florida accounted for 34% of new HIV cases in 2018.

The seven counties receiving the funding are Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas. The funding arrives via a federal initiative President Trump announced earlier this year titled “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America.”

The initiative seeks to lower HIV rates nationwide by 75% in five years and 90% in 10 years by, for example, channeling federal resources to the 48 counties (plus Washington, DC, and San Juan, Puerto Rico) that account for more than half the new HIV diagnoses in the country. The seven Florida counties are among the 48.

In addition, the federal plan will help states and counties achieve four key goals in the fight against the epidemic. According to HIV.gov, the initiative aims to:

  • Diagnose all people with HIV as early as possible

  • Treat people with HIV rapidly and effectively to reach sustained viral suppression

  • Prevent new HIV transmissions by using proven interventions, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and syringe services programs

  • Respond quickly to potential HIV outbreaks to get needed prevention and treatment services to people who need them.

To read more about the “Ending the HIV Epidemic” initiative, read “What Do We Know About Trump’s HIV Plan for America?” To learn more about NLAAD, click here.