Colorado Joins Worldwide Effort To Fight AIDS

The state of Colorado announced on Tuesday it will join a global effort to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The initiative seeks to ensure that 90 percent of those living with HIV know their status and receive treatment to control their infection. The city of Denver had already signed on to the agreement, now the state of Colorado will provide more resources, such as increased testing and expanding HIV care.

Part of the effort’s focus will be on ending the stigma attached to the virus. Dr. Daniel Shodell of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says some who live with HIV hide their status.

“It does compromise all of our efforts in terms of providing people with the best care possible and curbing the epidemic overall throughout the state,” he said.