Health Department Forms Folder 0065, 1999-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

through the Health Education and Life Program (HELP) van since 1995. The Department has implemented a number of educational campaigns for individuals at risk ofHIV infection in its effort to prevent further transmission of disease. Between calendar years 1994 and 1998, New York City experienced a decline of 72 percent in the number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS, from 7,102 tol,978. New AIDS cases declined by 38 percent, from 12,123 cases in 1994 to 7,428 cases in 998.

D) Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Since 1994, the Department has become more aggressive in its outreach and follow-up for positive syphilis tests. Also that year, the Department began operating a unique syphilis screening and treatment program in the women's facility at Riker's Island. Furthermore, the Department increased clinic accessibility to patients by opening selected clinics on Saturdays. Given the extra burden that the City carries for many diseases, it is a particular accomplishment that New York City rates for syphilis and gonorrhea have surpassed the Center for Disease Control's Healthy People 2000 goals. From 1994 to 1998, the City experienced a decrease of 84 percent in syphilis cases and a 37 percent decrease in gonorrhea.

E) Infant Mortality

Since 1994, the Department expanded its services to reduce infant mortality to include Fort Greene and a mobile van that provides pregnancy testing, risk assessment and medical referrals to women residing in high-risk neighborhoods. The City's infant mortality rate (IMR) for Calendar Year 1998 was 6.8 per 1,000 live births, representing both a historic 101 year low and a decline of 24 percent from the CY94 rate of 9.0 per 1,000 births. In addition, the City has surpassed the Healthy People 2000 IMR goal of 7.0 per 1,000 live births.

F) Immunization

A top priority of the Department is to improve the childhood immunization rates through a comprehensive Citywide plan targeting communities in need of programs and services. As of January 1997, all hospitals, clinics and providers who immunize children are mandated to report immunizations given to children less than eight years of age to the Department's Immunization Registry. As of July 1999, all public and private hospitals and 87 percent of private physicians were reporting to the Immunization Registry with over 1.7 million children with 8.5 million immunizations being recorded.

G) Access to Care

In July 1998, the Department launched its Division of Health Care Access to develop, implement and monitor initiatives that expand access to health care services. Previously executed by the Mayor's Office of Medicaid Managed Care, the Department became the administrator of the Medicaid Managed Care Program and executes contracts with Medicaid

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