Private MD News

Cities try to prevent new HIV infections

Category: HIV

Health departments across the country are increasingly shifting their focus on the matter of HIV to one of prevention. These new efforts include everything from making HIV testing more accessible to helping individuals get a hold of condoms.

For example, the New York City Health Department recently announced the launch of a new iPhone application that will allow users to locate the nearest location to them that provides free condoms, according to the New York Daily News.

The program is intended to help more individuals practice safe sex, which officials say could help bring down the number of new HIV cases each year.

"We are trying to reach everyone having sex," Monica Sweeney, the department's point person for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, told the news source. "The younger generation uses their iPhone and we want to make it convenient for them to access condoms."

Other cities, such as San Francisco, have chosen to place a greater emphasis on HIV testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that this is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the infections.