The South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN), a planning body for Ryan White Care Part B (RWC B) in Broward, meets monthly to exchange data and services for those living with HIV.
RWC B funds health insurance payments, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and non-medical HIV services. The HIV Planning Council acts as the planning body for Ryan White Care Part A (RWC A) in Broward. RWC A funds medical payments among other services.
SFAN June 9
Claudine McLeary reported on ADAP. She said that Broward ADAP no longer requires clients to enroll every six months. They have moved to an annual enrollment system.
SFAN July 7
Cecilia Gonzalez reported on ADAP. She gave data on June's rate of viral suppression among RWC B clients. The National Institute of Health has reported that once a client has achieved viral suppression, they can no longer sexually transmit HIV. After six months of treatment, 93% (4,512 individuals) of Broward ADAP clients had achieved viral suppression. That figure exceeds the Florida Department of Health’s goal of 92% viral suppression for ADAP clients. These figures do not include people accessing HIV treatment outside of RWC. In May, Broward ADAP clients had also exceeded the state goal for viral suppression.
Wismy Cius reported on RWC A. The Community Partnerships Division (CPD) is seeking input from key community providers. CPD is interested in hearing from those providers not currently contracted with CPD. If interested, please contact Linda Krepel at
On August 29, many people in the HIV communities will be observing National Faith HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. RWC A helps to organize local observances. Two events will occur. One, on August 26, will be open to the public. The other, August 30, will be for clergy and faith-based leaders. Interested clergy or faith-based leaders should contact Wismy Cius at
Joey Wynn reported on the Fast Track Cities project. On June 27, Fort Lauderdale hosted a conference on this program. Cities become Fast Track Cities when they officially sign the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities. At the local conference, Mayor Dean Trantalis (D) signed the Paris Declaration. Fort Lauderdale has now become a Fast Track City.
When a city signs that Declaration, that city commits itself to achieving its 95-95-95 targets. The first 95 refers to 95% of people living with HIV knowing their correct HIV status. The second 95 refers to 95% of those who know their correct status receiving anti-retroviral therapy. The third 95 refers to 95% of those in treatment achieving a suppressed viral load. These targets have the goal of ending the HIV epidemic in affected cities by 2030. The key is providing sustained access to “quality HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services, including preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP).”
As of July 7, 2023, 288 cities in 93 countries have signed on to the Fast Track Cities program. Signatory cities include one city in Algeria, one in Lebanon, and five in Morocco. The Fast Track Cities website describes the program as “a global partnership between cities and municipalities around the world and four core partners – the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the City of Paris.”
For more information on Fast Track Cities, please visit bit.ly/3PVZ2ph. To read the Paris Declaration, please visit bit.ly/3JXkSEX. Next SFAN Meeting: August 4, at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 NE 56th St., Fort Lauderdale. SFAN welcomes newcomers.
