Governor Cuomo unveils plans to end AIDS in NY by 2020

On Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled a 37-point plan to end AIDS in New York by 2020.

He vowed to add the HIV virus to the list of largely vanquished killers such as polio and smallpox and said he would dedicate $10 million in state funds over the next two years.

The details of the proposal have been brought out in a list of recommendations by a task force Cuomo appointed last year.

The suggestions include greater focus on HIV testing, treatment and the use of pre-exposure drugs that can prevent new infections in high-risk groups.

The target is to drop the number of new HIV infections to 750 per year by 2020, compared to the 3,200 cases identified in 2013.

In New York City Cuomo told a group gathered at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, "We will not stop until the AIDS epidemic is in the past. New York is audacious. We will not be told we can't do it. We can do it. We can end the AIDS epidemic".

However, advocacy groups, which include Housing Works and The Treatment Access, in a report, revealed that the governor's plan woefully underfunded.

According to the report, Cuomo's plan will cost more than $2.25 billion in Medicaid costs alone. Also, it didn't include housing costs which are expected to cost as much if not more.

However, the expert analysis said that if the entire plan was carried out, the state would ultimately save $6.8 billion in Medicaid costs.

New York has witnessed drop in the number of new HIV cases by nearly 40% in the last 10 years. This has happened due to better, faster tests; access to condoms; public outreach campaigns and other initiatives. Meanwhile, due to more effective treatments, the HIV infected people are living longer.