City of San Antonio and Bexar County Continue Fast-Track Cities
Published on April 15, 2024
San Antonio and other cities around the globe are taking part in the fight against HIV.
SAN ANTONIO (April 15, 2024) – In an effort to continue combating the HIV epidemic, the City of San Antonio and Bexar County will continue their partnership with Fast-Track Cities, a global initiative between municipalities and international partners with a goal to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. A special ceremony was held on April 15 where Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and Mayor Ron Nirenberg signed the Sevilla Agreement and Paris Declaration 4.0, a commitment to expand services, enhance educational efforts to decrease stigma and increase access to affordable care for those with HIV.
"We are partners in this cause and pledge to work together on this important health issue to improve the lives of everyone in Bexar County. We are committed to supporting communities affected by HIV," Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said.
San Antonio became the first Texas community to join the global initiative in 2017. In line with the new UN Global AIDS Strategy (2021-2026), Fast-Track Cities are now committed to reaching a set of targets known as 95-95-95: 95 percent of people with HIV knowing their status, 95 percent of people diagnosed with HIV being on treatment and 95 percent of people on HIV treatment having suppressed viral loads.
“The City of San Antonio continues its steadfast commitment to ending HIV by executing strategies focused on prevention, treatment, and support,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. “The time is now for San Antonio to do more, to be better, to engage people without shame or stigma.”
Dr. Jose M. Zuniga, President and CEO of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) and Fast-Track Cities Institute (FTCI) added, “Our efforts to end the HIV epidemic must be guided by the voices and needs of communities most affected. Placing affected communities at the center of urban HIV responses is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity to advance effective, inclusive, and sustainable interventions aimed at curbing new infections and preventing AIDS-related deaths. I salute Judge Peter Sakai and Mayor Ron Nirenberg for their political leadership in affirming a shared dedication to placing the voices and needs of those most affected by HIV at the forefront of the HIV response in San Antonio and Bexar County.”
The recommitment to Fast-Track Cities will also impact the End Stigma End HIV Alliance, a collective of 25+ local organizations including Metro Health, which aims to improve collaborative and educational efforts in San Antonio.
More information about Fast-Track Cities is available on the organization’s website.