Medical advisory panel created on AIDS Day

Mayor Kasim Reed announced recently the formation of a Mayor’s Medical Advisory Committee to address public health concerns in the city of Atlanta. The committee will provide guidance to the Office of the Mayor and the Atlanta City Council on key health issues that may impact the city and its employees including HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition, the committee will also work with partnering agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State of Georgia Health Department and Fulton County Health Department to provide healthcare information to Atlanta residents.

The committee will include community-based physicians and healthcare providers.

Mayor Reed will also designate a committee chairperson who will serve as Surgeon General for the Office of the Mayor. The position will be a volunteer appointment.

According to the CDC, one in 51 Georgians will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime and in 2015, Georgia was ranked fifth highest in the nation for total number of adults and adolescents living with HIV infection. Among the 18 Public Health Districts in Georgia, Fulton and DeKalb had the highest numbers and rates of persons living with HIV infection. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of persons living with HIV infection in 2015 resided in the Atlanta, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In addition, other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis have increased within the City at an alarming rate. According to a recent report by the CDC, Georgia ranked among the top five states in the U.S. with the highest rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

The Medical Advisory Committee will be appointed by the Mayor for a two-year term. All members of the committee are expected to be appointed by Dec. 31. PAMELA MILLER FOR THE AJC