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Invest In The Wellbeing of PLWHA To Prev …

by Dustin Gruber

Invest In The Wellbeing of PLWHA To Prevent New Transmissions

This is the second in a series of four Q&A posts capturing founder Bruce Richman’s perspectives on our movement to end HIV stigma with U=U, Prevention Access Campaign, and all of us. Recently he talked with us on DAP LIVE.

Question

We don’t talk enough about how stigma can prevent us from getting HIV testing.

If someone who’s HIV positive can access medication, they can live a very long life. But if they don't know that they have HIV and they don't access medication, there can be all kinds of complications.

Tell me about U=U’s role in ending the epidemic. Because if we don't know our status, and if we don't have access to the medication we need, we're not going to end the HIV epidemic. Also, why is stigma still so prevalent?

Answer

Initially I didn't understand that U=U had a role in ending the epidemic in terms of preventing new transmissions. I always really focused on improving the lives of people with HIV and ending the stigma that we have faced for so long. But in terms of ending the epidemic, U=U is essential. Dr. Fauci says, “U=U is the foundation of being able to end the epidemic,” because the more people who are on treatment and undetectable, the fewer new transmissions there'll be.

So in the United States, when you realize half of the people living with HIV are not on treatment and not in care, and they're not getting the treatment and care or the services, they need to stay healthy.

They're also not getting those services that they need to stay un-transmittable. So if we really want to end the epidemic and save lives, we're going to make sure that we invest in the wellbeing of people living with HIV, so they can stay healthy and prevent new transmissions. We need to link investing in the wellbeing of people living with HIV to ending the epidemic. Because when you invest in the wellbeing of people with HIV, you prevent new transmissions. And that's a big deal.

HIV stigma is intertwined with all kinds of stigma. There's sex negativity, homophobia, transphobia, stigma against people who inject drugs and sex workers. And that deep-seated negativity against all kinds of STIs. HIV stigma is particularly embedded in this country because of the last 35 years of mass fear-based messages. And what we remember since the early days of the 1980s.

It’s something that is really hard to unlearn decades of fear of HIV and people living with HIV. It'll take a long time. That's why we have to keep saying it— “U=U.”

People living with HIV cannot pass it on if you make sure that all of us have the treatment and the care that we need to stay healthy. We're not going to pass on HIV. There's no fear. You can have sex,  babies, love—all with no risk.

Question:

When you started this, did you think it would become a global human rights movement?

Answer:

We launched U=U four years ago. No, I didn't think it was going to be like this. I've always been really behind the scenes with my work in the past. I just knew this had to be done. We had targets, we had the CDC, we had UN AIDS, World Health Organization, public health associations, and research associations.

We were very focused in terms of who we needed to move forward and our advocacy. And we had numbers, I think at the end of the first year, we're going to have 75 in the U.S. and we had already had 200 at that point.

This just goes to show the power, the passion and the brilliance of people living with HIV around the world who are standing up to change the narrative about their bodies. And to reclaim our lives from public health systems that are deeply, inherently flawed, racist and paternalist—all those “isms” that prevented this life changing information from getting to us all those years.

It's almost a thousand organizations in 101 countries. Now it's just, it's phenomenal. And so many different languages.

Preventionaccess.org has a lot of information, including social shares that allies can use. It's got tips about the language that we should all be educating ourselves about. It’s science-based, and values fact over fear.

Get Access To the Care You Need

One Call is a service that can enroll callers in health insurance or Medi-Cal through Covered California, register them for medical and behavioral healthcare, and schedule their first appointment at DAP — all in approximately 45 minutes. This is a significant reduction in the amount of time this would normally take, thanks to a DAP Healthcare Navigator who will work one-on-one with each caller.

Callers can access One Call service by calling 760-992-0426, Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm PDT.

Click to Connect to An Enrollment Specialist

Sexual Health Clinic - Palm Springs

1695 N. Sunrise Way Palm Springs, CA 92262

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 AM (Closed for lunch from noon-1:00 PM)

Call 760-992-0492 to schedule an appointment.

To reach our after-hours answering service, please call (760) 323-2118.

Click Here to Call the Sexual Health Clinic

Transgender Care at DAP Is Here For You

by Dustin Gruber

Transgender Care at DAP Is Here For You 

Transgender residents in California seeking culturally competent, compassionate medical and behavioral healthcare in a stigma-free setting can always get it at DAP, with help navigating coverage through Covered California as well. 

Visit https://www.daphealth.org/health-services/gender-affirming-care/  for more information. 

We asked Anthony Velasco, Co-Chair of DAP’s Transgender Health Program, to help allies understand a little more about transgender people’s experiences with healthcare, and how we all have an opportunity to help create spaces that all are welcome in. 

Question: Some in healthcare wear their pronouns on their nametags (i.e., she, her, hers) What does it mean to a trans person when they see this on someone’s name tag when they come in for services? 

Answer: Pronouns matter --- acknowledging someone’s pronouns and using their pronouns is a sign of respect and courtesy. Wearing our pronouns on our nametags, identifying the pronouns we use when we introduce ourselves, and adding pronouns in our signature lines also creates a safe space for individuals who have experienced misgendering or those who are afraid to be misgendered. Wearing our pronouns on our nametags also signals to our patient that --- we see you, we acknowledge you, and you are safe with us. 

Question: How can we help people understand why so many trans people face barriers to basic healthcare? 

Answer: We need to talk about the stigma experienced by trans people throughout their lives.  

Cis-centered and heteronormative policies and practices greatly limit the resources and opportunities for them and their communities.  

Many have reported delaying preventative care due to discrimination they have experienced from their health care providers, including verbal harassment. Many also report having to educate their doctors about gender affirming care when it should be the other way around. 

I believe that gender-affirming care should be integrated in primary care, and that primary care clinicians should be able to provide gender-affirming primary care.  

Question: How do we create a world with more culturally competent healthcare clinicians providing reliable transgender care services? 

Answer: Stigma against gender-diverse individuals has permeated in different levels of our society, and we must fight it all. We start this by integrating LGBTQ-health related content in medical, nursing, and allied health curricula.  

At most colleges, the median number of hours in the medical curriculum on LGBTQ health is only 5 hours, and even less for nursing curricula. At Desert AIDS Project, we enrich this, ensuring that nursing and nurse practitioner students, medical students, and residents are exposed to health-related issues unique to the LGBT community.  

Providing all team members an understanding of how transphobia, homophobia, and racism all have direct impacts on our clients’ health is a core training aspect with our future clinicians at DAP. By doing this, not only are we able to model the values of inclusiveness and diversity we stand for, but we also shape future clinicians to value inclusiveness and diversity once they start their own professions. 

More about HHS removing ACA protections  

The news about HHS removing ACA nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people for health care and insurance does not affect access to care and services at DAP.  

At DAP, we offer our transgender and non-binary community culturally competent, compassionate medical and behavioral healthcare in a stigma-free setting. We also help them navigate through Covered California, our state’s insurance exchange, for access to MediCal or other options. We do not turn anyone away because they don’t have insurance.  

Anyone can still access Transgender Care at DAP. Thanks to our own state’s insurance practices and civil rights law, LGBTQ people remain protected. Unfortunately, transgender people do not have the same rights across the U.S.  

### 

Get Access To the Care You Need

One Call is a service that can enroll callers in health insurance or Medi-Cal through Covered California, register them for medical and behavioral healthcare, and schedule their first appointment at DAP — all in approximately 45 minutes. This is a significant reduction in the amount of time this would normally take, thanks to a DAP Healthcare Navigator who will work one-on-one with each caller.

Callers can access One Call service by calling 760-992-0426, Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm PDT.

Click to Connect to An Enrollment Specialist

Sexual Health Clinic - Palm Springs

1695 N. Sunrise Way Palm Springs, CA 92262

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 AM (Closed for lunch from noon-1:00 PM)

Call 760-992-0492 to schedule an appointment.

To reach our after-hours answering service, please call (760) 323-2118.

Click Here to Call the Sexual Health Clinic

Free COVID-19 Antibody Testing From DAP …

by Dustin Gruber

Media Contact

Jack Bunting

(760) 323-2118

COVID-19 Triage Clinic Hotline:

(760) 992-0407

Free COVID-19 Antibody Testing From DAP at FIND Free Mobile Market Community Food Distribution

When: This Thursday, June 25, 2020, from 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Where: James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center 480 W Tramview Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262

This Thursday, DAP will be providing no-charge asymptomatic COVID-19 antibody testing and educational materials to the public during FIND’s free Community Mobile Market food distribution at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center. This testing will take place from inside the DAP Mobile Testing Van.

DAP is committed to offering COVID-19 rapid antibody testing to our community, especially people facing financial challenges during this time. Our team will also be able to talk to anyone about our One Call program. This service helps people into insurance enrollment and healthcare services by making just one phone call to DAP at (760) 992-0426.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in healthcare access in the United States. CDC data shows that the death rates among Black and LatinX people are much higher than for white people, in all age categories.

According to CDC data, Black Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people with HIV, compared to other races and ethnicities. In 2018, Black Americans accounted for 13% of the US population, but 42% of the 37,832 new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas.

For anyone interested, free HIV and HCV testing will also be available from DAP staff at that location that day. Community members who are unable to attend the June 25 event are encouraged to call DAP's COVID-19 Triage Clinic hotline to schedule a test by calling (760) 992-0407.

FIND Food Bank distributes food the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center. DAP typically provides HIV and HCV testing at this venue, and regularly partners with FIND for the health of the community. Read more about FIND Food Bank here.

Accessing healthy food in the Desert Highland Neighborhood has always been a challenge for residents. But after public outcry and a supporting health study by Loma Linda University Health and Desert Health Care District, providing nutritious options for people there has become top-of-mind for local leadership and community organizations. Read more here.

Hurdles Accessing Enough Food

Food Insecurity is an economic or social indicator of the health of the community with a direct correlation to poverty levels and poor health outcomes. At least 50% of our clients receive Supplementary Security Income, based on disability, which renders them ineligible for the CalFresh food "stamp" program. Other clients who are eligible for Cal-Fresh receive $16-$30 per month; amounts that are insufficient to fully alleviate food insecurity. Since DAP's founding, food assistance has been a vital component of our integrated approach to service delivery, based on the Chronic Care Model, a system of care that emphasizes patient self-management skills, and the Patient-Centered Medical Home model, which facilitates partnerships between patients and their healthcare providers.

About Our Clients

DAP serves vulnerable low-Income persons and families living below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level inclusive of all races, ethnicities, gender orientation, and sexual identity, in addition to low-income people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Over one-third of DAP's patients/clients who are living with HIV are aged 50 years and older. DAP is well aware of the needs of clients and patients confronted by numerous complications of surviving long-term with HIV, including subsisting on fixed incomes.

About Desert AIDS Project

Desert AIDS Project (DAP) is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Palm Springs, CA offering DAP Total Care – a combination of medical, dental, counseling, social services, support groups, alternative therapies, in-house pharmacy and lab, and other health and wellness services. DAP’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK, offers STI testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. DAP’s Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign, the nation’s first region-wide free HIV testing and access to care initiative, was recognized by the White House for helping to bring about an AIDS-free future. DAP has earned a “Four Star” rating from Charity Navigator for the twelfth consecutive year – landing DAP in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that we exceed industry standards in terms of our financial health, accountability, and transparency.

Visit www.desertaidsproject.org and www.thedockclinic.org to learn more.

###

Get Access To the Care You Need

One Call is a service that can enroll callers in health insurance or Medi-Cal through Covered California, register them for medical and behavioral healthcare, and schedule their first appointment at DAP — all in approximately 45 minutes. This is a significant reduction in the amount of time this would normally take, thanks to a DAP Healthcare Navigator who will work one-on-one with each caller.

Callers can access One Call service by calling 760-992-0426, Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm PDT.

Click to Connect to An Enrollment Specialist

Sexual Health Clinic - Palm Springs

1695 N. Sunrise Way Palm Springs, CA 92262

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 AM (Closed for lunch from noon-1:00 PM)

Call 760-992-0492 to schedule an appointment.

To reach our after-hours answering service, please call (760) 323-2118.

Click Here to Call the Sexual Health Clinic

Surge Warning: Heightened COVID-19 Aware …

by SteveWolfson

Surge Warning: Heightened COVID-19 Awareness Required

COVID-19 Surge Means Vigilance Must Be Top Of Mind

The Coachella Valley is experiencing a significant surge in COVID-19 infections, especially in the Eastern portion of the County, which accounts for half of all cases. A serious surge is happening throughout our state.

All people in California are now required by law to wear face coverings in most public indoor settings, plus in other situations where exposure is likely. Examples include waiting in line outside, using public transportation, and working with the public. For more guidelines from California Department of Public Health, click here.

Wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing are making all the difference in preventing new infections. It is extremely important that everyone take heightened measures to protect themselves and others.

By mid June, we surpassed 1,560 clients receiving care at our COVID-19 Clinic since opening in March, and we continue to see numbers rise as more people seek testing and consultations. Our staff are receiving as many as 400 calls per day for information and appointments.

We’re adding a new swab test to our protocol, and it will enable us to serve even more people in our community during this crisis, in less time, and with a lot less discomfort.

The more testing and services DAP can offer means fewer people in our community will have to be hospitalized for this virus. It will also require everyone doing their part to keep themselves and others safe.

Please read our COVID-19 Q&A for regularly update information. Call the COVID-19 Hotline (760) 992-0407 if you’d like to talk to someone about staying safe, or coming in for testing.

Surge Warning, plus Civil Rights Wins an …

by SteveWolfson

Surge Warning, plus Civil Rights Wins and Challenges

Weekend Wrap Message - Friday, June 19 From David Brinkman, Desert AIDS Project CEO

COVID-19 Surge Means Vigilance Must Be Top Of Mind

The Coachella Valley is experiencing a significant surge in COVID-19 infections, especially in the Eastern portion of the County, which accounts for half of all cases.

Wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing are making all the difference in preventing new infections. We urge everyone to take heightened measures to protect themselves and others as we begin this Father’s Day weekend.

This week we surpassed 1,560 clients receiving care at our COVID-19 Clinic since opening in March, and we continue to see numbers rise as more people seek testing and consultations. Our staff are receiving as many as 400 calls per day for information and appointments.

We’re adding a new swab test to our protocol, and it will enable us to serve even more people in our community during this crisis, in less time, and with a lot less discomfort. The more testing and services DAP can offer means fewer people in our community will have to be hospitalized for this virus.

Please read our COVID-19 Q&A for information. Please call the hotline (760) 992-0407 if you’d like to talk to someone.


Unexpected Justice: Supreme Court Protects LGBTQ Rights to Work

It was a landmark day for LGBTQ equality and our community when the United States Supreme Court codified our civil rights in places of employment this week. This changes the world and it provides the leadership that the United States should be and can be known for. We still have plenty of work to do. Health and Human Services has also rolled back civil rights for transgender Americans accessing healthcare through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).


Transgender Care Program at DAP Is Here For You

The news about HHS removing ACA nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people for health care and insurance does not affect access to care and services at DAP. Anyone can still access Transgender Care at DAP. Thanks to our own state’s insurance practices and civil rights law, LGBTQ people remain protected. Call (760) 323-2118 or email [email protected] for more information.


Rejoicing With Dreamers

DAP stands with DACA recipients locally and across the U.S. We welcome this week’s Supreme Court decision upholding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). We acknowledge their ongoing contributions to this community and our nation, and we remain committed to supporting them as they make good on their own life dreams.


Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) is the oldest commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Desert AIDS Project continues to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the peaceful protests which continue to energize the movement around the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in healthcare access in the United States. CDC data shows that the death rates among Black people are much higher than for white people, in all age categories. Read more here.


VOICES OF HOPE - Together, We Thrive – Happening TONIGHT

We invite you to join us at 7:00pm tonight (Fri Jun 19) for this star-studded event livestreaming on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Co-produced and hosted by TV Personality and OUT100 Honoree, Scott Nevins, VOICES OF HOPE features some of the biggest names from Broadway and Hollywood. Find out more here.

DAP Celebrates Juneteenth

by SteveWolfson

DAP Celebrates Juneteenth

Friday is Juneteenth, the oldest commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Desert AIDS Project continues to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the peaceful protests which continue to energize the movement around the world.

"Juneteenth is an opportunity to commemorate the contributions of Black individuals who have inspired, guided, and driven our work at DAP, but also to recommit to our mission of ensuring everyone has access to healthcare information, testing, and treatment," said Desert AIDS Project CEO David Brinkman.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in healthcare access in the United States. CDC data shows that the death rates among Black people are much higher than for white people, in all age categories.

According to CDC data, Black Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people with HIV, compared to other races and ethnicities. In 2018, Black Americans accounted for 13% of the US population, but 42% of the 37,832 new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas.

On Friday, digital marquee signs at DAP on the corner of Sunrise and Vista Chino, and at Revivals Cathedral City store located on Hwy 111, will recognize the day by displaying the emancipation flag.

Additionally, DAP will be using its social media platforms to educate its followers about the meaning of Juneteeth as we continue our work to end systemic poverty via nutrition, housing, and police safety.

Revivals Stores will be encouraging its shoppers to explore the rich variety of Black-owned businesses in Greater Palm Springs. https://www.pslocalsonly.com/

Further, to engage our employees, there will be a special all-staff virtual gathering on Friday to reflect upon and discuss the importance of Juneteenth’s historic and current significance.

Yesterday, DAP joined Human Rights Campaign and 350 LGBTQ organizations united in calling for transformational change in policing. The letter reads in part, "We cannot sit on the sidelines, we cannot acquiesce, and we cannot assign responsibility to others. We, as leaders in the LGBTQ movement, must rise up and call for structural change…” You can read the full letter here.

And, most importantly, DAP continues to listen to persons of color in the community in which we serve to learn how DAP can become a stronger ally and co-worker in the movement to end racism.

Finding Hope in Uncertainty

by Dustin Gruber

Finding Hope in Uncertainty

Weekend Wrap Message - Saturday, June 13, From David Brinkman, Desert AIDS Project CEO

Back on: VOICES OF HOPE -Together, We Thrive.

In solidarity with Black Lives Matter, we delayed the original Voices of Hope streaming date.

As we move forward together, we invite you to join us at its rescheduled date and time: Friday, June 19, at 7:00pm, livestreaming on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.  Co-produced and hosted by TV Personality and OUT100 Honoree, Scott Nevins, VOICES OF HOPE features some of the biggest names from Broadway and Hollywood. Find out more here.

U=U = Freedom to love without shame over HIV

We all live with uncertainty, and when we can focus on fact, science and certainty it is very affirming. With a science-based message, Bruce Richman and Prevention Access Campaign have radically improved the way people living with HIV look at themselves, and this transformative campaign has gone global.

U=U, short for Undetectable = Untransmitable, is helping people unlearn decades of fear about people living with HIV, and it’s even helping lessen fear around getting tested. Bruce was interviewed by Steven Henke on DAP LIVE this week, and I urge you to watch it below, or read the excerpts that we’ll be sharing in our News section in the coming weeks.

Applying Prevention Access Campaign values locally

When we hear experts like Bruce Richman say that half of Americans with HIV are not accessing the type of treatment and services they need to thrive and prevent transmitting to others, I immediately think about the people of this valley who need our services.

Our Community Health Director C.J. Tobe wrote about the practical work he and others at DAP are doing to help Coachella Valley residents become undetectable if they have HIV, as well as other methods for preventing and treating HIV in our community. You can read that here.

Safe Chiropractic Services back on at DAP campus with Dr. Jim Cox

Hunkering down is the right thing to do for many, but our clients are developing back and shoulder pain because of the new normal. That’s why we were so happy to have Dr. Cox resume safe chiropractic services onsite at DAP. You can read more about hours and some tips on preserving your back from him by clicking here.

Clarifying how we charge for antibody testing

Our ability to offer rapid antibody testing to the uninsured and underinsured of the Coachella Valley and Riverside County was made possible because of a generous grant.

Our clients with commercial PPO coverage will notice we are billing their insurance company. This should not result in a direct bill to the client. There is no co-pay, and no additional expense to worry about.

Please call the hotline (760) 992-0407 if you’d like to talk to someone about your coverage and the cost of COVID-19 testing at DAP. We will always work to provide you the quickest and most reliable testing option possible. You can read more in our Coronavirus Q&A by clicking here.

More ways to shop at Revivals        

The new tag says it best—home means more now. Our team at Revivals has opened up all three stores for safe in-person shopping, and they’re also bringing the joy of the hunt to residents of our valley with a new online shopping site featuring its best-selling brand new Mode furniture items. Revivals is a significant financial contributor to DAP client services. You can see what the team has created by clicking here.

Safe Chiropractic Services Open Again at …

by Dustin Gruber

Safe Chiropractic Services Open Again at DAP

Clients can once again access safe chiropractic therapy on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be requested on MyChart or by calling (760) 323-2118.

Dr. Jim Cox is noticing that his clients have new aches and pains that seem to go along with sheltering in place. Read more, including tips for keeping our backs healthier. 

Now that chiropractic services at DAP have resumed, what are some common problems your clients are noticing, and what can you tell us about the causes?  

Working from home: A LOT of sore and stiff necks and shoulders due to bad ergonomics, and not having a proper desk set up. 

Walking or hiking a lot more than ever before: Low back and hip pain from exercise their bodies aren’t used to. 

Getting to those projects that have been put off: Shoulder pain from lifting all those rocks or boxes.

Anxiety and stress over the whole situation: General aches and stiffness all over, a physical manifestation, which also can be from inactivity (REALLY staying in).

How safe is it to come see you at DAP? 

Very safe.  We’re screening at the door.  Everyone is masked and surfaces are wiped down thoroughly between patients.

Will you be doing things differently in your practice? 

Wiping down surfaces was always our protocol, so the screening and masks are the only thing new.  No modifications to treatment protocol. 

Any tips for folks to preserve their backs when hunkering down means they cannot see their favorite Dr. of Chiropractic? 

Move it or lose it!  Within tolerable levels of course. 

  • Stretch often. 
  • Yes, it’s a “stay at home” order but that doesn’t mean you can’t go for a walk.  The heat now poses a challenge, so get up early and take a nap later. 
  • Maintain a healthy diet as much as possible.  Carb loading with inactivity is the perfect recipe for joint inflammation.

Birth of U=U = People losing fear over H …

by Dustin Gruber

Birth of U=U = People losing fear over HIV testing

This is the first in a series of four Q&A posts capturing founder Bruce Richman’s perspectives on our movement to end HIV stigma with U=U, Prevention Access Campaign, and all of us. Recently he talked with us on DAP LIVE.

Question: How did this all get started? I know for you, it was a very personal experience that brought the science behind this to the forefront. You've talked about it being your calling.

Answer: Absolutely. I learned that because I had an undetectable viral load, I couldn't transmit HIV through sex back in 2012, and that was nine years after my diagnosis. And it changed everything for me because I never thought that I could have sex or conceive children, or just even be intimate with someone without that fear of passing on HIV. And it just, it just rocked my world.

But then I found out that so many people weren't being told about it and they were being told that they were infectious--and they weren't infectious. And it was happening on a massive scale.

So that's kind of how this all started happening is they're talking to other people who also knew U=U is true. And I found some wonderful people in the field who were in leadership positions who would join with me. And in summer of 2016, we created a consensus statement with scientists to confirm that U=U is true. And then we took that statement and went out and got influential people and organizations like Desert AIDS Project to sign on and to join us endorsing that when you're undetectable and you're on treatment, you cannot transmit HIV through sex. U=U.

Find out more about Bruce Richman, U=U, and Prevention Access Campaign at preventionaccess.org

You can watch the 20 minute interview with Steven by clicking here.

Sexual Health Clinic - Palm Springs

1695 N. Sunrise Way Palm Springs, CA 92262

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 AM (Closed for lunch from noon-1:00 PM)

Call 760-992-0492 to schedule an appointment.

To reach our after-hours answering service, please call (760) 323-2118.

Click to Call Our Sexual Health Clinic

Keeping our finger on the pulse of the H …

by Dustin Gruber

Keeping our finger on the pulse of the HIV epidemic

Talk to your friends, family, and sexual partners about U=U.

By C.J. Tobe, Director of Community Health

Over the last few months many colleagues have expressed concerns that HIV prevention could be turned back 5 years because of the current health crisis. Let’s discuss HIV prevention to keep our fingers on the pulse of this epidemic that we’ve been battling for 35 plus years. While I have the bullhorn, I also want to talk about an unlikely form of HIV prevention and how surprisingly long it’s taking to get noticed.

When I moved to Palm Springs in 2015, I was shocked to find out through conversations on Grindr that many people were still unaware of U=U. To reach the most people I decided to update my personal social media profiles stating, “Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U). If you are unsure what this is, please ask.” Now in 2020, 5 years later, I still have many people asking me “what is U=U”?

While significant progress has been made by HIV advocates across the world, stigma surrounding people living with HIV is still very much alive. It affects even those who are adherent to their HIV medications and who have a suppressed viral load, which means they cannot transmit HIV to another person through sex.

According to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, NIAID, NIH when interviewed at the 2019 International AIDS Conference,

"The concept of U=U is the foundation of being able to end the epidemic."

If we know that people living with HIV are taking their medications and are virally suppressed will not transmit HIV, then why are we not screaming this from the rooftops? Well, we should. Talk to your friends, family, and sexual partners about U=U.

What is Desert AIDS Project doing to help support those living with HIV to become undetectable?

At Desert AIDS Project we learned through the AIDS crisis that becoming undetectable is more than taking daily medication. It is a combination of factors such as a roof over your head, food in your belly, staying on top of your mental health, and following through on routine oral health exams. DAP’s integrated model of services supports those people living with HIV on their journey to U=U.

Knowledge is Power

U=U may be the foundation to ending the HIV epidemic but what else can we do to combat the multifaceted HIV epidemic?

Access to HIV and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) testing and treatment. At DAP, we test more than 5,000 individuals for HIV in 1 year, and the HIV test is Free. The frequency of testing varies depending on your risks. You could be tested every 3 months, once a year, or once in your life depending on the risk assessment done by our Community Health Educators. Even during the current crisis, DAP is providing access to HIV testing in the form of supplying free at-home HIV test kits.

Knowing your HIV status is empowering. Also, important is knowing your STI status. Why?

People who have a STI are twice as likely in acquiring HIV, so routine STI testing and treatment if needed will reduce the number of new HIV infections in any community. Routine STI testing will help prevent someone from contracting HIV and decrease transmitting STIs to a sexual partner as many STIs people are asymptomatic (No symptoms)

Anytime I engage with someone in-person or via social media apps who may be a potential sex partner, I always follow up the HIV status discussion with an STI status discussion.

I ask, when were you last tested? How many sexual partners have you had since your last test? This is not meant to judge a potential sexual partner’s sexual history or scare one of from your past but to empower yourself in taking control of your sexual health by having a transparent conversation with someone you’re about to become intimate with.

At DAP, we provide STI testing and treatment.  People turn to sex for stress relief, to cope with isolation, to eat, to have shelter, and to survive. If you want an appointment today for HIV and STI testing please call 760-992-0492.

Put PrEP in your step

How can we talk about the pulse of the HIV epidemic without the game-changing medications to prevent HIV called PrEP and PEP? PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, and is a pill (Truvada, or Descovy) that is taken to prevent someone who is HIV-negative from acquiring HIV. Similar to birth control, PrEP is a medication is taken once a day. If taken once a day PrEP has been shown to be 99% effective in preventing HIV infection.  PrEP dramatically changed the landscape of HIV prevention by giving us the first new tool to fight HIV since the beginning of the epidemic.

Similar to U=U, I was surprised to find out how many people today are still unaware of PrEP and its benefits. I updated my personal social media profiles to include “Do you know what PrEP is? If not, please ask me?” Every time I log on to an app there is always someone inquiring about PrEP. People also ask, who is PrEP for? PrEP is for anyone who is HIV negative and at risk for HIV infection

People express various concerns about PrEP including the cost, side effects and stigma.  PrEP was studied extensively before it gained FDA approval in 2012.  It’s been shown to be both safe and effective in preventing HIV. 

While the medication does carry a high price tag, there are many support programs to help offset the cost and most people can access PrEP with very little or no expense.  DAP is a provider of PrEP navigation services to help people look at PrEP for themselves and assist them with education, financial support and finding a medical provider.

Anyone using PrEP would first be tested for HIV and STIs.  This testing is repeated once every 3 months and is a great way to educate people about the value of routine HIV and STI Testing.  The more we normalize PrEP and routine testing the more comfortable people are with including these things as part of sound routine health care.

Between U=U and PrEP, we were starting to turn the tide on new infections, and HIV numbers across the country were going down for the first time in many years. As someone working in and committed to public health, it scares me when I consider that these game-changing HIV interventions might take a back seat during the current health crisis.

The responsibility for ending HIV falls to all of us. We have the tools to help end HIV in our community—but only if we resist the urge to forget just how deadly it has been in our community for decades.