What is the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative?
Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) is a robust initiative that seeks to accelerate progress in HIV prevention and end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030.
The Announcement
To end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated and through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health is leading the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative.
The bold goal of this Initiative is to dramatically accelerate HIV prevention progress and reduce the number of new HIV transmissions in the United States by 75 percent by 2025, and by 90 percent by 2030. The initiative seeks to achieve this goal by providing those areas most in need with the additional expertise, technology, and resources required to scale up four key strategies (Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, Respond) needed to end the HIV epidemic in their communities.
The Mission
An estimated 1.2 million Americans currently have HIV and millions more are affected by it.
Despite the progress made over the past four decades, HIV is still a significant public health concern. Recognizing that we have the right tools and the right leadership, HHS leadership have prioritized this ongoing public health crisis and established a plan to end this epidemic.
Thanks to landmark advances in technology and epidemiological research, we now have the necessary tools and proven models of effective HIV care and prevention, including antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The time is now to end this epidemic.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is coordinating this cross-agency initiative, applying the latest science and evidence to better care for and reach those populations disproportionately affected by HIV. The federal initiative is envisioned as one piece of a society-wide effort to end HIV in America. Only by working together can we achieve this shared mission. From empowering communities at the local level, to teaming up with the best and brightest across the healthcare enterprise, everyone has an important role to play.
The Plan
HHS is sponsoring a once-in-a-generation opportunity to end new HIV transmissions in our nation. This initiative will work to accelerate progress towards this goal by providing those areas most in need with the additional expertise, technology, and resources required to address the HIV epidemic in their communities.
Phase 
Geographic Focus
Phase I of the EHE will focus on 48 counties, San Juan, PR and Washington, DC, where more than half of all new HIV diagnoses occurred in 2016 and 2017. In addition, Phase I will focus on seven states with a substantial HIV burden in rural areas. Phase I efforts will result in additional resources, technology, and expertise in the 57 jurisdictions in an effort to expand education, prevention, treatment, and response activities in those communities.
Phase 
In Phase II, local and federal efforts will continue to expand to address prevention, care, and treatment needs across the entire country. The goal is to reduce new transmissions by 90 percent by 2030.
Phase 
In Phase III, intensive case management will be implemented to maintain the number of new transmissions to fewer than 3,000 per year.
Key Strategies
The EHE initiative is built on four key strategies:
AHEAD and
the EHE Initiative
AHEAD is a critical component of EHE that helps monitor our collective
progress in achieving the indicator targets established for EHE.
