NEW MEXICO HIV COMMUNITY AND PLANNING GROUP TASK FORCE
With the increasing cases of co-infection of HIV and HCV, a new task force was formed in order to address the issues of viral hepatitis
within New Mexico. The task force is called the "Viral Hepatitis Task Force" and is a part of CPAG.
This task force consists
of members of NMDOH, various agencies and organizations, as well as interested community members. This group works closely with
the "Hepatitis C and Co-infection Committee" within NMHCA.
New Mexico is experiencing about 5,000 cases of hepatitis B and 35,000
cases of hepatitis C. These are the known case which is troublesome as around 60 to 80 percent of those living with hepatitis
C do not know they have it.
The communities that border with Mexico are experiencing an increase in hepatitis C and co-infected
migrants.
This task force was created in order to utilized the resources at hand in a better way.
To have outreach to more of
the high risk communities and the rural communities. CPAG is also developing a strong outreach to the Native American
communities in the state.
There is much collaboration that is taking place with various agencies and organizations such as New
Mexico AIDS Services, NMDOH, NMHCA, Project ECHO, UNM Health Sciences Center, First Nations, Navajo AIDS Network, El Central Family
Health, Alianza of New Mexico, Santa Fe Mountain Center, and Rotary Club of New Mexico. All of these groups are working
within the CDC guidelines and funding sources.
