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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dear Partners, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">On this day, World AIDS Day (see attached proclamation) we remember the lives of people who have died from an HIV-related illness. We support those who live with HIV, and those who are disproportionately exposed
to HIV infection. We recommit to our shared responsibility and work in solidarity with each other, our communities, our nation, and our global neighbors to end the HIV pandemic. We also acknowledge all those who came before us, fighting for justice and equity
over the past 40 years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The HIV/VH/STI Integrated Planning Group (IPG) was formed in 2011, bringing together two independent prevention and care planning bodies, with one shared vision of a future where there are no new infections
and everyone living with HIV is healthy. The IPG developed Oregon’s first integrated comprehensive plan, the foundation of the
</span><a href="https://www.endhivoregon.org/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">End HIV Oregon</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> initiative that launched on World AIDS Day 2016. Since then, the Oregon Health Authority releases an Annual Report [<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/581d04a2f5e231b25f875be2/t/61a66afdd242fc24c9b5d469/1638296324006/OHA_EndHIVOregon_2021_ProgressReport+FINAL_English.pdf">English</a>][<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/581d04a2f5e231b25f875be2/t/61a6ad85829f5f05ea0e2af8/1638313358596/OHA_EndHIVOregon_2021_ProgressReport+FINAL_Spanish.pdf">Spanish</a>]
on World AIDS Day to highlight our progress towards our shared goals. This year, we are also releasing a new
</span><a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/oregon.health.authority.public.health.divison/viz/EndHIVOregon/EndHIVORHome"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0">Dashboard</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> that will help us monitor key
metrics towards ending HIV transmission in our state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Increasing Testing</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">: Testing is easy, but only 41.5% of adult Oregonians have ever been tested for HIV. The options for HIV testing are increasing, with tests
available in medical settings, community settings, and even at home, through the One at Home, mail-order self-testing program.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Expanding Prevention</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">: Prevention works, and there are more tools in our prevention toolbox than ever before. PrEP, the pill that prevents HIV, is now covered
by most insurance plans, and can be prescribed by the more than 350 medical providers on the Oregon PrEP Directory or by pharmacists. Oregon continues to support new and traditional prevention strategies, including mail-order condoms and syringe exchange sites
that assist community members in accessing services to stay healthy.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Ensuring Treatment</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">: Treatment saves lives, and people living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to their sex partners (<b>Undetectable=Untransmittable,
U=U</b>). The CAREAssist Program expanded eligibility this year to ensure that more people living with HIV have access to life-saving medicines. The Early Intervention Services & Outreach Program (EISO) is successfully linking people newly diagnosed with HIV
to medical treatment, and supportive services, like housing, ensure that people can stay on treatment and maintain their health.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Ending Disparities</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">: Not all Oregonians are benefiting equally from available resources. Funded community partnerships ensure that resources
reach communities facing inequities, and that services are designed and led by communities. In 2021, the Oregon Legislature declared racism a public health crisis, formally codifying the need to lead with race and re-envision how public health services are
delivered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Thank you for your ongoing partnership and dedication to ending new HIV infections in the State of Oregon. The End HIV Oregon initiative is for and about everybody. It is because of you that we are seeing
progress towards our collective goals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We have a vision. Imagine an Oregon where … we end new HIV infections. We eliminate health disparities. Everyone with HIV is healthy. Can you imagine it? The time is now.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">Annick Benson-Scott<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#2F5496">Pronouns: she/her/hers</span></i><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#2F5496"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">HIV/STD/TB Section Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Public Health Division<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Desk: 971-673-0142
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Cell: 971-255-7092
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Hours: M-F 7:00 am – 3:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/OHA"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">http://www.oregon.gov/OHA</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.endhivoregon.org/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="137" height="104" style="width:1.427in;height:1.0833in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D7E53A.C80BCF40"></span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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