Long Beach Health Department cutting STI/HIV services
A loss of $1.3 million in federal funds cut by the Trump Administration is to blame, city officials say.
Recent cuts by President Donald Trump’s administration have forced the city to eliminate a variety of public health services, Long Beach health officials said Wednesday.
The $1.3 million in cuts will affect STI/HIV prevention, education and treatment, programs which have been funded for many years by federal funds, according to the city Health Department.
“Long Beach is not alone in experiencing these impacts due to loss of federal funding,” city health officials said in a statement issued Wednesday. “Reductions to programs were also seen across the country and regionally in Los Angeles County, which provides health services to those outside Long Beach.”
As a result of the cuts, the city will no longer proved the following services:
- Mobile Testing Unit, which provided free HIV/STI testing at various locations in Long Beach;
- HIV and STI testing and treatment services located at the Ron Arias Health Equity Center (6335 Myrtle Ave.);
- STI/HIV outreach and engagement services, including PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) navigation services;
- Sexual and Social Network, which provided outreach, education and testing to social and sexual networks of high-risk individuals.
Those wanting comprehensive sexual health services, including STI testing, PrEP and PEP, and STI treatment for a fee (sliding/reduced fees based on income) can still go to the Health Department’s Sexual Health Clinic (2525 Grand Ave.), city officials said. Walk-in services are available on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to provider availability, but appointments are encouraged.
There are about 4,000 people in Long Beach living with HIV or AIDS, according to the health department. Health Department efforts have contributed to a 5.8% reduction in HIV rates from 2023-2024 as well as a 70% rate of viral suppression for those living with HIV in 2023, city health officials said.
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