The following is a statement from National Minority AIDS Council Executive Director Paul Kawata:
Washington, DC – “The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) congratulates Dr. Jono Mermin on his appointment as head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP). As one of the largest centers at the CDC, NCHHSTP plays a critical role in our national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and funds critical prevention and testing efforts at hundreds of local health departments, community based and AIDS service organizations.
“In his previous role as director of the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, Dr. Mermin showed incredible leadership and worked closely with national and local HIV organizations in implementing policies that aimed to better direct resources to those communities most heavily impacted by the epidemic and ensure that funds are used in a way that would maximize their effect. NMAC has always had a fantastic working relationship with Dr. Mermin and looks forward to continuing our close collaboration as he settles into his new role. The CDC will be a pivotal partner in the effort to realize an AIDS-free generation, and the selection of Dr. Mermin to lead NCHHSTP is a promising step in realizing that vision.”
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Contact: Kyle Murphy, (202) 483-6622 ext. 3330