This year’s World AIDS Day observance on December 1 is the 25th commemoration of the opportunity to bring attention to the impact of the HIV epidemic. We at AIDS.gov know some event planners may not focus year round on HIV awareness, yet want to plan an activity for December 1. With this in mind, and building on this year’s theme of “Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-Free Generation,” today we offer some questions and resources to help planners to get ready to mark World … [Read more...]
U.S. Conference on AIDS 2013 – Final Day
The 2013 U.S. Conference on AIDS (USCA) came to a close yesterday with a plenary session on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, a much discussed topic throughout the four-day conference. Among the observations shared by a diverse panel were: The healthcare law extends important civil rights protections that can be helpful in addressing the continuing stigma and denials of care in health settings experienced by some people living with HIV (PLWH) across the nation, noted Deborah … [Read more...]
U.S. Conference on AIDS 2013 – Day 3
Some of yesterday’s highlights from the 2013 U.S. Conference on AIDS (USCA): The Importance of Patient-Provider Conversations Addressing a vital aspect of retention in HIV care during a plenary session, acclaimed photographer Duane Cramer and fashion designer Mondo Guerra from Project Runway—both of whom are living with HIV— highlighted the importance of continued open and meaningful communication among HIV patients and their healthcare providers. Mr. Guerra shared that from the beginning of … [Read more...]
Sebelius Approves Plans for Data Collection for HHS HIV Grantees
Secretary Sebelius Approves Plans to Standardize and Streamline Data Collection for HHS HIV Grantees The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently reached a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to standardize and streamline data collection for recipients of federal HIV funds. On June 28, 2013, Secretary of Health and Human Kathleen Sebelius approved plans submitted by nine HHS operating divisions and staff offices to adopt and deploy common core indicators for … [Read more...]
Dr. Carl Dieffenbach: IAS Conference – Day 4
Today was the final day of the 7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. This week, we’ve asked Dr. Carl Dieffenbach from NIH/NIAID, to share daily dispatches from this important scientific conference via Skype. As Dr. Dieffenbach related, research related to significant HIV treatment advances has been a major scientific highlight of the conference. As he explained, “improvement(s) in the treatment of HIV really has converted HIV from a … [Read more...]
HUD AWARDS $32 MILLION TO 30 LOCAL HIV-AIDS HOUSING
[Last month], the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $32 million in grant awards to assist more than 1,300 extremely low-income persons and families living with HIV/AIDS annually. The grant awards will provide these households with a stable living environment, which is essential to accessing healthcare and HIV related services. In addition to housing assistance these grant programs will provide access to the needed supportive services in assisting beneficiaries with a … [Read more...]
HIV Testing Sites and Care Services Locator
A Tool for Clinicians As an HIV physician who sees patients at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, I want to share a valuable resource for you and your patients with you. The HIV Testing Sites and Care Services Locator is a unique, online, location-based search tool that you can use with your patients and clients to help them access testing services, as well as resources for housing, mental health, substance abuse and more. The tool takes advantage of open data from HHS agencies such … [Read more...]
NIH Scientists Discover How HIV Kills Immune Cells
NIH Scientists Discover How HIV Kills Immune Cells Findings Have Implications for HIV Treatment WHAT: Untreated HIV infection destroys a person’s immune system by killing infection-fighting cells, but precisely when and how HIV wreaks this destruction has been a mystery until now. New research by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, reveals how HIV triggers a signal telling an infected immune cell to die. … [Read more...]