HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Digest
August 2, 2023
NACCHO News and Announcements
STI Post-Exposure Prophylaxis with Doxycycline: Consultation Summary Report
This week, NACCHO released the Consultation Summary Report on STI Post-Exposure Prophylaxis with Doxycycline. NACCHO, with support from CDC’s Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP), hosted a virtual consultation on December 5th and December 6th, 2022. The purpose of this consultation was to gather subject matter experts to share considerations related to implementing DoxyPEP to prevent STIs. Together, the subject matter experts explored topics like clinical benefits and harms of doxycycline and the possibility of doxycycline resistance development. The consultation was also used to inform DSTDP on considerations to include for their recommendations on the topic. You can read the report here.
Webinar: Toolkit Launch: Point-in-Time Surveys for Harm Reduction Programs
In August 2023, the University of Washington Supporting Harm Reductions Programs team is launching a toolkit for syringe services programs (SSPs) interested in implementing a point-in-time survey. Point-in-time surveys can be a valuable way for SSPs to learn about their community, reduce routine data collection, and improve programs. Materials have been adapted for public use after being developed and tested during a Learning Collaborative with 7 SSPs supported by NACCHO. During this 1-hour webinar on Thursday, August 17th at 4 PM ET, we will introduce the website components, including tools and tutorials and North Carolina Survivors Union will share their experience implementing a point-in-time survey during the Learning Collaborative. Register here.
Congenital Syphilis/Perinatal HIV Webinar in August
Over the last year, NACCHO has been collecting information on congenital syphilis prevention and control interventions from health departments across the United States, and sharing the collected responses in a compendium. In collaboration with NASTAD and NCSD, the compendium is now expanding to include perinatal HIV prevention and control interventions. Preventing perinatal HIV and congenital syphilis are critical priorities for public health as both can be prevented with timely testing and treatment. Please join NACCHO, NASTAD, and NCSD for a webinar on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 as we review the compendium and highlight programs across the country implementing policies and practices that interrupt congenital syphilis and perinatal HIV transmission. Register here!
Please complete our DIS Survey: Impact of DIS Funding Rescission on Local Health Departments
In recent weeks, local jurisdictions heard from CDC and/or state health departments that the Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) Workforce Development Funding will end December 31, 2023, two years earlier than anticipated. These COVID-STD funds, which were part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, were rescinded as part of the debt ceiling negotiations. These funds were originally planned to support years 4 and 5 of an investment in DIS at the state and local level. Through this survey, NACCHO would like to gather information on the impact of the recission of the $400 million for DIS activities on disease intervention specialists (DIS) at local health departments. Specifically, NACCHO is interested in understanding how the law has impacted people with, or at risk for, STIs, the DIS workforce, and overall health department program planning and implementation. We appreciate your time and consideration with providing this information.
Now Accepting Abstracts: 2024 Preparedness Summit
The call for abstracts for the 2024 Preparedness Summit, to be held March 25-28, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio, is officially open! This year’s theme, Public Health, Healthcare, and Emergency Management: Aligning to Address Cascading Challenges, provides an opportunity for sectors to come together, align missions, and discover better ways to work as true partners to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. The Summit Planning Committee invites public health, healthcare, disaster relief, emergency management, and other professionals nationwide to showcase and share their research findings, best practice training models, tools, or other resources that advance the field of public health and healthcare preparedness and response. The abstract submission period is open now through September 15 (11:59 PM PT). New this year, a points system is being implemented to encourage potential speakers to submit their proposals early. Visit the Preparedness Summit website to learn more about this year’s abstract submission categories, preview the application, and submit your abstract.
HIV, STI, & Hepatitis Resources and News
Request for Applications: Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) Pilot Projects
Date of release: August 1, 2023
Applications are due by 11:59 pm E.T. on September 2, 2023
Please direct questions to: Audrey Eisemann at [email protected] or Bailey McInnes at [email protected]
With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is pleased to announce a funding opportunity to build the evidence base for promising and best practices in overdose prevention at the intersection of public health and public safety in Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) states. Through this funding opportunity, NACCHO and CDC will award up to seven applicants in different stages of their response to the overdose epidemic in one of the following categories:
Categories of work:
- Planning Awards will be awarded up to $50,000 each.
- Implementation Awards will be awarded up to $50,000 each.
- Expansion Awards will be awarded up to $50,000 each. Eligibility is restricted to recipients that received the ORS Pilot Project, Implementation Award, in 2022-2023. Recipients of this award category will lose eligibility for continued funding on the same project following five consecutive years of receipt for their project but may receive funding after five years for a new project.
Application Submission: Please submit all applications and supporting materials using the online submission form.
For full details about the funding opportunity, please review the Request for Applications. Questions about the RFA and application process can be directed to Audrey Eisemann, Sr. Program Analyst at NACCHO ([email protected]) or Bailey McInnes, Program Analyst ([email protected]).
Hackathon Awards $60K to Innovative, Implementable Solutions to Prevent, Treat, and Control STIs in the U.S.
The winners of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s (NASEM) HACKATHON: Tech & Media Solutions to Reduce Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) were announced on June 23, 2023, at the end of a two-day event at the Beckman Center in Irvine, California.
The winners are as follows:
AI-Powered Software Solutions Track:
- 1st place: Poppy — Joshua Inhyuk Choi (University of California, Irvine), Nathan Choi (University of California, Irvine), and Paul Wong (University of California, Santa Cruz)
- 2nd place: STIcker — Lalit Patel (data science) and Sean Patel (University of California, Riverside, Neuroscience 2023 Graduate)
YouTube Health Innovation Prize: SympToDialog — Jimy Bombela (California State University, Fullerton, Computer Science 2023 Graduate), Kenny Garcia (California State University, Fullerton, Computer Science Undergraduate), Mauricio Macias (California State University, Fullerton, Computer Science 2021 Graduate), and Ricky Morales (California State University, Fullerton, Computer Science Undergraduate)
Data Analytics Track:
- First Place and YouTube Health Innovation Prize: Porcupine — Zhuyuan He (full-stack developer/data visualization/interaction design and prototyping) and Jimmy Wang (software engineering/computer science)
- Second Place: STIgma — Oscar Florez (full-stack developer/generative AI), Cornelius Jamison (family medicine physician/health care researcher), Matt Kilboy (registered nurse/health informatics), and Victor Nguyen (front-end developer/software engineering)
NASEM will soon host a virtual Hackathon to generate further solutions around STI prevention; registration will open in mid-August.
NASEM would like to issue a special thanks to the mentors (Catherine Diamond, Abraham Johnson, Elizabeth (Lizzi) Torrone, Sean Young) and judges (Abhik Choudhury, Jen Hecht, Alok Patra, Sonia Almonte, Saugat Karki, Allysha Maragh-Bass).
More information about the Hackathon can be found here: nam.edu/STIHackathon
A full press release can be found here.
New WHO Guidance on HIV Viral Suppression
New WHO guidance and an accompanying Lancet systematic review released describe the role of HIV viral suppression and undetectable levels of virus in both improving individual health and halting onward HIV transmission. Learn More.
News to Note
Syphilis has increased 128% among women in Houston since 2019 – CNN
End of AIDS could happen by 2030, UN says – The Hill
Upcoming Opportunities
The Choice Agenda presents: Tales from Two Cities: HIV and STI research highlights from Brisbane and Chicago
Thursday, August 3
9:00 AM–10:30 AM ET
Convert to your time zone: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
Register now: https://tinyurl.com/talesfromtwocities
STI Rural Intensive Course
Increase your knowledge regarding Sexually Transmitted Infections. This training is for providers that examine patients.
Register Here: Course is limited to 40 participants https://courses.nnptc.org/class_information.html?id=3728
October 5-6 2023
As we emerge from COVID, the US as a whole and Indian Country, in particular, are seeing surges in the ‘syndemic’ of interrelated disease states of sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis C virus, HIV and substance use disorder. This program will offer a free 2-day in-person training in October to address the syndemic – with follow up virtual ECHO clinics to continue learning, knowledge sharing and support. The training will provide an overview and present implementation options, and where requested, assist with implementation. The training is not only informational—technical and other support needed to put policy and practice into place is available and encouraged. CE will be provided.
