Elected officials and advocates came together ahead of tomorrow’s National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to speak on the progress of ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

As of 2022, just over 1,600 people were diagnosed with HIV in New York City, a 2% decrease from 2021. The process does appear to be slow but local leaders assured New Yorkers that this is a top priority.

Black and Latino people between the ages of 20 and 49 in the Bronx have experience the highest number of new HIV diagnoses, making up 77% of new diagnoses in 2022.

Councilmember Pierina Sanchez and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson emphasized the available pre-intervention services here at home and around the nation.

“There’s no reason why if you have HIV it should not be a death sentence, but it can be if you do not do something about it,” said Sanchez. “We want to raise this issue, eliminate the stigma, and ultimately end the epidemic.

Health experts suggest regular testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent getting HIV.