Baton Rouge sees big drop in AIDS diagnosis rates

Baton Rouge longer les nation for its rate of new AIDS diagses, and officials are crediting increased use of HIV testing at hospitals.

In 2016 Baton Rouge held top spot for rate of new AIDS diagses, but w ranks number 10. That’s according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vocate reported.
City officials touted change in a news conference Monday at a health clinic run by Our Ly of Lake Regional Medical Center and LSU Health.

“ first step to stopping HIV epidemic in Baton Rouge is awareness,” Broome said. “ earlier you kw, faster our medical and social services can help.”

Broome pushed to increase “opt-out” testing in hospital emergency rooms. She says people who kw ir status are more likely to seek treatment. Under “opt-out” testing, any patient seeking emergency care at three area hospitals are automatically tested for HIV unless y decide y don’t want to get tested.

From 2016 to 2018, number of tests completed has gone from 6,490 to 22,875.

“Prevention and treatment go toger,” said Shirley Lolis, executive director at Metro Health, a local HIV/AIDS public health organization. “Testing is very, very, very important.”

city has seen an uptick in number of new HIV diagses, likely a result of increased testing.

city-parish is currently talking to or hospitals to join initiative, according to Jared Hymowitz, director of Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative. Mayor’s Office is also using some money from a $1.5 million grant that East Baton Rouge Parish received from Centers for Disease Control to hire a full-time staff member in mayor’s office to coordinate its HIV/AIDS initiatives.