According to research funded by the New York State Department of Health, almost 85,000 people were living with HIV in the city in 2020. Despite health care advancements, people are still battling this disease.

Joining NY1 is Sharen Duke, the Executive Director and CEO of Alliance for Positive Change, an organization that works to ensure all New Yorkers have access to HIV testing, treatment and care.

According to Duke, the LGBTQ community, people who use drugs, and those in poverty are still the hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic.

One challenge is making sure that people get tested and know their status. Then they need to be directed to access the medical care they need to access treatment.

One in five New Yorkers living with HIV do not have access to the medications and treatments they need to achieve viral suppression. Duke says the Alliance wants to address the whole person by offering housing, a pharmacy, job placement, and peer training. It’s all designed to help people overcome barriers to accessing medical care.