WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 8, 2015)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen testified Tuesday before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) to offer her perspective on the opioid epidemic affecting millions across the country, and to propose suggestions to improve federal policies to combat and ultimately end opioid use disorders abuse and overdose.

There's a huge hole in the kitchen ceiling of the rowhouse Olivia Griffin rents in West Baltimore.

BALTIMORE, MD (December 1, 2015)– In recognition of 2015 World AIDS Day, representatives across Baltimore City today honored those we have lost to AIDS and recommitted citywide efforts to ending the epidemic in Baltimore City. Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen and Baltimore City Health Department representatives joined federal officials in Washington D.C. today to announce that Baltimore has joined the Fast-Track Cities Initiative, a declaration to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in cities across the world.

Launched on World AIDS Day 2014 in Paris, the Fast-Track Cities Initiative leverages existing HIV programs and resources in high HIV incidence cities around the world to strengthen their AIDS responses and accelerate the scale-up of prevention, testing, and treatment services for HIV and comorbid diseases, including tuberculosis.

Being diagnosed HIV-positive is no longer the death sentence it once was, but getting treatment to everyone who’s infected, and curbing the spread of the disease are still major challenges in cities like Baltimore. Despite declines in the total number of new AIDS cases in the city, HIV infection rates among certain groups are on the rise.