WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), a leading non-partisan non-profit association that represents public health officials who administer HIV and hepatitis programs in the U.S. and around the world, announced today that CDC-funded local jurisdictions will join its membership—a first in the organization’s 25-plus year history. Public health officials from local jurisdictions receiving direct funding for HIV prevention from CDC will join the current members as they work to end the intersecting epidemics of HIV, viral hepatitis, and related conditions.
The local jurisdictions joining NASTAD are Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles County, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The addition of these new members will foster stronger collaboration between health departments with long histories of working on urban epidemics—which will provide opportunities for peer-to-peer exchange and unify local and state efforts.
“This is a huge step forward,” said Murray Penner, Executive Director of NASTAD. “The end of the HIV and hepatitis epidemics is for the first time within our reach, and it’s hard to overstate the value of welcoming large urban jurisdictions into our membership. States and cities have learned a lot of lessons over the years about how to combat the HIV and hepatitis epidemics. By coming together, we will exponentially increase our effectiveness.”
The change in bylaws to add CDC-funded local jurisdictions was approved by NASTAD’s Board of Directors during its March 2017 meeting in Washington, DC. NASTAD members will be asked to ratify the change at the onset of NASTAD’s Annual Meeting in May.
“It’s been truly exciting to have been involved in the process to expand NASTAD’s membership,” said DeAnn Gruber, NASTAD Board Chair and STD/HIV Program Director for the Louisiana Department of Health. “By working more collaboratively with local jurisdictions, NASTAD members can continue to take the necessary steps to develop and support programs and policies that prevent new infections, ensure swift linkage to care, and provide access to affordable, high quality care for people living with HIV and hepatitis.”
“I’m thrilled that representatives from local jurisdictions will be joining those of us who have been a part of NASTAD for some time,” said Michael Kharfen, NASTAD member and Senior Deputy Director of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD & TB Administration at the D.C. Department of Health. “Membership in NASTAD has brought tremendous value to my work. I’m confident that other cities can benefit from what Washington, DC has gained as a NASTAD member. By expanding our network, we’ll be more effective in the fight against HIV and hepatitis.”
“NASTAD members have been doing vital work nationally and internationally to strengthen the essential role of infectious disease governmental public health for a long time,” said David Kern, incoming local jurisdiction member and Deputy Commissioner, HIV/STI Bureau, City of Chicago. “I’m excited to join their ranks and work collaboratively to find solutions to end HIV and hepatitis once and for all in Chicago and across the world.”
