NMAC recognizes the need to work in coalitions and across movements to end the epidemic. As NMAC works to empower People Living with HIV, center Whole-Person Health, and develop a coordinated multi sector response to interconnected health challenges, we work with several partners and broader coalitions – both within and beyond the HIV community. These partnerships are essential to building effective advocacy and creating lasting policy successes.
If you believe NMAC could become a member of one of your coalitions doing work on HIV or Whole Person Health, please email Cecelia Thomas at cthomas@nmac.org.
NMAC is a proud member of the following Coalitions and Partnerships:
- The Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements (founder)
- The Partnership to End HIV, STDs, and Hepatitis (founding member)
- PrEP Coverage Task Force (founding member, website forthcoming)
- Preventive Services Rapid Response Working Group
- PrEP Coverage and Rights Working Group
- Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP)
- FAPP Aging Working Group (co-chair)
- AIDS Budget and Appropriations Coalition (ABAC) – FAPP Working Group
- #SaveHIVFunding
- AIDS Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC)
- Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC)
- Coalition to Stop Flu
- Louisiana Coalition on Criminalization and Health (LCCH)
- Save Florida ADAP
The Partnership to End HIV, STDs, and Hepatitis
NMAC is proud to be a founding member of the Partnership to End HIV, STDs, and Hepatitis. Created in 2016, The Partnership comprises five of the nation’s leading organizations focused on ending the HIV, STD, and hepatitis epidemics in the United States.
Organizations and Executive Directors
About the Partnership
Mission
To secure the necessary rights, resources, and services for those affected by the HIV, STD, and Hepatitis epidemics through sound policies and appropriations at the federal level.
Vision
A nation fully committed to ending the HIV, STD and Hepatitis epidemics, where all those affected by these diseases can easily access stigma-free prevention, care and treatment services.
How the Partnership Works
The Partnership works with policymakers and others to preserve HIV, STD, and hepatitis legislative successes, promote necessary appropriation and funding levels, retain crucial aspects of existing health care coverage, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid, and build upon the progress Federal programs have made on HIV, STD, and hepatitis prevention, treatment, care, and support over the last several decades.
The Partnership’s Advocacy Focus
HIV Prevention & Care
Prevention:
Despite tremendous progress with HIV prevention efforts, there are still an estimated 38,500 new infections each year. Continued funding for the CDC is needed to maintain recent gains and intensify prevention efforts in communities where HIV is the most prevalent. We must also expand access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of infection to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at high risk by up to 92%. PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool and can be combined with condoms and other prevention methods to provide even greater protection than when used alone.
Care:
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides a critical and comprehensive system of care that includes access to lifesaving medication to low income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals living with HIV in the U.S. through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), primary medical care, and essential support services for people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured, including premium assistance. As the program struggles to keep up with demand amid a changing and uncertain healthcare landscape, continued funding is critically important now and in the future to ensure that access to healthcare, medications, and other services for people with HIV are consistently maintained
Housing:
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program provides housing assistance and related supportive services for low-income people living with HIV and their families. Housing is the greatest unmet need for people living with HIV. Adequate funding for HOPWA is needed to ensure safe, affordable housing for low-income people living with HIV.
SMAIF:
Racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. are disproportionately impacted by HIV. The Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative aims to improve the HIV-related health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The resources for MAI are designed to encourage capacity building, innovation, collaboration, and the integration of best practices.
STD Prevention
STD infections are at an all-time high in the U.S and these epidemics are worsening. A growing body of evidence shows that these epidemics are inextricably linked with the HIV and opioid epidemics. Sexually transmitted infections increase an individual’s risk of acquiring HIV, can result in severe birth defects, including infant death, and cause infertility and other negative health outcomes. Our nation must provide adequate and robust investments in STD prevention programs at the CDC. We must appropriately fund our public health infrastructure to address these growing epidemics.
Hepatitis
While there is a cure for HCV, there has been a 350% increase in the number of new cases between 2010 and 2016. And of the 3.5 million people living with HCV, only half are aware of their status. The elimination of hepatitis B and C in the United States is within our reach, but not without increased investments in comprehensive, national hepatitis prevention, screening, linkage to care, education and surveillance programs.
Opioid Epidemic
Racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. are disproportionately impacted by HIV. The Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative aims to improve the HIV-related health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The resources for MAI are designed to encourage capacity building, innovation, collaboration, and the integration of best practices.