WASHINGTON, D.C. (LEX 18)– President Donald Trump announced an ambitious goal during his State of the Union address earlier this week: he wants to end the HIV epidemic in the US by 2030.
The initiative would direct resources to several states, including right here in Kentucky.
This national proposal is called “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America”,which aims to reduce new HIV infections by 75 percent over the next five years and 90 percent within 10 years.
Health officials say the epidemic is mainly in rural counties across the nation.
The proposal will target those communities that are deemed high risk for infection and get the daily prevention pill – Truvada – into their hands.
Research shows that as of 2015 more than 6,600 Kentuckians are living with HIV.
Health officials say HIV has killed 700,000 people since 1981 and 40,000 people become infected every year.
Officials are also taking this time to strongly urge people to get tested if they think they may be infected.
“My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years,” Trump said. “We have made incredible strides. Incredible.”
The exact cost for the initiative is unknown at this time, but like the president said, the funding will be included in his proposed budget.
