Hepatitis is a broad term referring to inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused by a variety of things, including toxins, certain drugs, heavy alcohol use, and bacterial infections—but most hepatitis infections are caused by viruses. Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation. Different types of hepatitis are labeled with letters from the alphabet. These include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The most common types in the … [Read more...]
Eliminating Perinatal Transmission of Hepatitis B: More Than Just a Test
This Sunday we will observe Mother’s Day and celebrate mothers across the nation. May is also Hepatitis Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and to highlight opportunities to address this ‘silent epidemic’, such as redoubling our efforts to provide quality health care to mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection and help eliminate perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in the United States. DOWNLOAD mp3 Hepatitis B in the U.S. Nationally, new … [Read more...]
Alicia Keys, New National “EMPOWERED” Campaign, Reaching U.S. Women
Editorial Note: Many organizations are using new media channels to reach communities in the response to HIV/AIDS. Recently, we asked our colleagues at the Kaiser Family Foundation to share some information on the EMPOWERED campaign. The following guest post is about EMPOWERED, an example of a national campaign using traditional and new media. Among federal examples, the CDC’s Act Against AIDS has taken a similar approach. On April 15 in Washington, D.C, as she introduced EMPOWERED , her new … [Read more...]
The 2014 Budget highlights the National HIV/AIDS Strategy
The 2014 Budget highlights this Administration’s ongoing commitment to implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The Budget also aligns with the President’s commitment to achieving the goals of the Strategy by investing in evidence-based interventions, focusing efforts in populations most affected by HIV, and supporting vital research. The Budget is a comprehensive plan that reduces the deficit and puts the Nation on a sound fiscal course. By making strategic and science-based investments … [Read more...]
$1 Million in Grants enabling HIV+ People Stay in Care
AIDS United, a national organization dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic in the United States, recently announced $1 Million in Grants to seven organizations from diverse communities across the U.S. to help define and expand programs that help keep HIV-positive people in care and on treatment. The grants are part of a new $4 million multi-year Retention in Care Initiative supported by the MAC AIDS Fund . “Over the next three years, our grantees will be developing innovative and … [Read more...]
HRSA WEBINARS ON ENGAGING HARD-TO-REACH POPULATIONS
Beginning later this week, the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) will host a series of webinars focused on engaging hard-to-reach populations in HIV care. The webinars will synthesize some of the successful practices in engaging hard-to-reach populations from HAB’s Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) population-specific initiatives, and will provide insights relevant to a wide range of audiences, from clinicians to social workers. Information on the first two of these webinars is … [Read more...]
CMS, MARKETPLACE NAVIGATOR GRANTS (Apply Now)
CMS ANNOUNCES OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR MARKETPLACE NAVIGATOR GRANTS Editor’s Note: Yesterday, CMS released the Navigators Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) below. “Navigators” are individuals and entities that will provide unbiased information to consumers about health insurance, the new Health Insurance Marketplace, qualified health plans, and public programs including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. We are sharing this with our AIDS.gov readers for two reasons. … [Read more...]
HIV PREVENTION RESOURCE ALLOCATION MODELING PILOT (HIV RAMP)
The U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) calls on national, state and local programs to focus efforts in communities where HIV is concentrated and to target resources on tailored combinations of effective, evidence-based strategies. As jurisdictions work to apply these principles, some have employed resource allocation modeling to help inform their decision making about how best to utilize their available funds so as to maximize the number of new HIV infections averted. Download MP3 As … [Read more...]
NATIONAL YOUTH HIV + AIDS AWARENESS DAY, APRIL 10
Tomorrow, April 10th, 2013, marks the first National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) – a day to educate the public about the impact of HIV & AIDS on young people, as well as highlight the amazing work of young people in response to the epidemic. Through their efforts, youth and their allies will hold our leaders accountable for their commitment to and investment in realizing an AIDS-free generation. In the United States, one in four new HIV infections is among youth … [Read more...]
HHS Innovation Update – Health Datapalooza IV, HHS Ignite & More!
Data is fuel for innovation, and developers and entrepreneurs are key players who can turn that fuel into innovations that matter. We want to see what you are doing with health data! Be part of the excitiment this year and apply today to be part of Health Datapalooza IV—get exposure for your products and services, network with fellow innovators, and build connections that can help your company grow. Check out a great blog post by U.S. CTO Todd Park and HHS CTO Bryan Sivak on the importance of … [Read more...]
LGBT Health Awareness Week, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS
'Shortly after the Affordable Care Act was enacted, President Obama asked me to identify steps we could take at the Department of Health and Human Services to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans. As we mark the beginning of LGBT Health Awareness Week, I am proud to say that we have been working hard to ensure LGBT Americans have the same rights and protections as other Americans. For example, we have released rules requiring Medicare … [Read more...]