Florida Names New Leader in Fight Against HIV/AIDS Denise Royal
Dr. Robert Sterling Whisenhunt was recently named as the new Bureau Chief for Florida’s Bureau of Communicable Diseases. He will provide leadership for HIV/AIDS as well as other STDs, Tuberculosis and Immunization sections of the department. Whisenhunt most recently served as Director of the Florida Department of Children and Families Substance Abuse and Mental Health Office. In his new role, he says increasing HIV/ AIDS awareness throughout the state, especially in South Florida is a priority. “Intensive efforts are underway in these areas to reduce the number of new HIV infections. Between 2011 and 2013, MiamiDade received a 57 percent increase in funding from the Centers for Disease Control to conduct high-impact prevention. Broward had a 69 percent increase in CDC funding for the same time period,” Whisenhunt tells SFGN. He added, “Data suggest that HIV-infected persons with undetectable viral load are less infectious and are less likely to transmit HIV via sexual contact. As a result, both Broward and Miami-Dade counties have implemented aggressive programs to identify persons infected with HIV/AIDS, link those who test positive to HIV care and take steps to reengage persons lost to care.” Whisenhunt is familiar with the unique mosaic that makes up South Florida and its health challenges. He once worked for the Florida Department of Health in n Miami. During that time, he gained valuable experience. “While a member of the Florida Department of Health in Miami I learned that working closely with coalitions and community based organizations is critical. An integrated health model, involving multiple stakeholders, is necessary to reach those in most need of the services being offered,” he said. That cooperative effort is being put to work throughout South Florida when it comes to raising awareness about HIV/ AIDS. Both Broward and Miami-Dade counties promote HIV testing in healthcare and non-healthcare settings. For example, the Florida Department of Health in MiamiDade conducts the “Test Miami Campaign.” This campaign is a coordinated community effort with city, county and national officials; health care providers; Community Based Organizations (CBOs); the faith-based community; and others to promote testing as a routine part of health care. The Florida Department of Health in Broward conducts the ‘Broward is Greater than AIDS Initiative.’ As part of this initiative, Broward has implemented the Physician Ambassadors campaign to promote routine HIV testing in the healthcare setting. This initiative is
Dr. Robert Sterling Whisenhunt , newly named Bureau Chief for Florida’s Bureau of Communicable Diseases.
aimed at increasing testing, reducing stigma and promoting links to care. According to Whisenhunt, other initiatives include: •Perinatal HIV prevention, including the Targeted Outreach to Pregnant Women Act •Jail testing and linkage to care for those who test positive •Partner Services (by funding Disease Intervention Specialists and other STD clinic staff) •Condom Distribution •Outreach in high risk communities •Behavioral interventions for infected persons and high-risk negative persons •Community Mobilizations, social media/ marketing (Test Miami and Broward’s Physician Ambassadors campaign for example) •Community Planning •Monitoring and Evaluation The Florida Department of Health in Broward also leads the Broward County HIV Prevention Planning Council, which is representative of the groups disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Broward has created and implemented a Jurisdictional HIV/AIDS Prevention Plan and is engaged in a joint planning process between prevention and patient care, which has been called a national model. The Centers for Disease Control also provides funding to Miami through the ‘Twelve Cities Project.’ The goal is to determine which prevention approaches could have the greatest local impact. The project expands HIV testing; and prevention services for people living with HIV. The project also directs these efforts to communities at greatest risk. Whisenhunt says Florida’s health department is committed to combatting the issue of HIV/ AIDS especially when it comes to reducing the number of new infections. “Making an impact requires careful monitoring and a constant re-evaluation of prevention strategies and priorities,” he says.
GEORGE CASTRATARO, PA Arthur B. Smith, PA Of Counsel
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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 10.16.13 //
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