As we celebrate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month and the many accomplishments of AAPIs, we also want to recognize that these communities still face many barriers to health and health care, including HIV/AIDS. To recognize these challenges, May 19th has been designated as the National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The theme for this year’s observance is: “Saving face can’t make you safe. Talk about HIV—for me, for you, for … [Read more...]
LGBT Health Awareness Week, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS
March 29, 2013 by
'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...]
Aids.gov, What Does Two-Spirit Mean?
March 20, 2013 by
March 20th is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness of the terrible toll that HIV/AIDS continues to take on Native American populations. HIV/AIDS is a crisis that affects many American Indians and Alaska Natives, but particularly Two-Spirit individuals, who often experience stigma and discrimination in both Native and mainstream society. What Does Two-Spirit Mean? The term “Two-Spirit” has several meanings within Native cultures and communities, but it is … [Read more...]
March 20 is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD)
March 19, 2013 by
Wednesday, March 20 is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD). While American Indians and Alaska Natives make up 1.7% (5.2 million people) of the total US population and accounted for <1% of new HIV infections in the U.S., but have one of the shortest survival times after HIV or AIDS diagnosis of all race/ethnicity groups. According to the CDC, when population size is taken into account, American Indians and Alaska Natives ranked fifth in estimated rates of HIV/AIDS diagnosis, … [Read more...]
AIDS Response, special meeting at CSW 57
March 14, 2013 by
Special event at the Commission on the Status of Women seeks to accelerate zero-tolerance towards gender-based violence through the AIDS response Co-chaires Hon Thokozani Khupe, Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe (left) and Hon Julia Duncan-Cassell, Minister of Gender and Development of Liberia at the High Level Consultation Accelerating Zero-Tolerance to Gender based violence through the HIV response. New York City on March 9, 2013. Credit: UNAIDS/M. Taamallah NEW YORK — These … [Read more...]
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY?
March 13, 2013 by
Last Sunday marked Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and we are providing an update on the Working Group’s progress. As co-chairs, we are personally committed to this work, having first-hand community and clinical experience in seeing and treating the devastating effects violence has on the lives of women and their families. PROGRESS TO DATE: PRESIDENT’S WORKING GROUP ON THE INTERSECTION OF HIV/AIDS, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND GENDER-RELATED HEALTH … [Read more...]
INFANTS BORN TO HIV+ MOTHERS: NEED FOR A FRESH LOOK
March 9, 2013 by
On Monday, March 4, 2013, at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Atlanta, Dr. Deborah Persaud of the Johns Hopkins University presented an intriguing case study of a child who by all measures seems to be cured of HIV infection. This single case has sparked significant conversation, debate, and optimism. This blog highlights the important questions that have naturally arisen from this case and examines aspects of the research agenda that now need to be … [Read more...]
CHILD TO BE ‘FUNCTIONALLY CURED’ OF HIV
March 6, 2013 by
March 6, 2013 This case brings new hope for young children infected with HIV. We eagerly await further research on these findings and whether the experience of the child can be replicated in clinical trials involving other HIV-exposed children. The doctors’ use of early and aggressive antiretroviral treatment in this child raises questions for further research around how soon after birth HIV-exposed infants should be tested and the optimal dosing of antiretroviral drugs for newly-infected … [Read more...]
HHS celebrates Black History Month, also reminded of troubling Hepatitis C disparities
February 28, 2013 by
As we celebrate Black History Month, here at HHS we are also reminded of troubling hepatitis C disparities that persist in the African American community. African Americans are twice as likely to be infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) compared to the general U.S. population, according to the CDC. While African Americans represent only 12 percent of the U.S. population, they make up roughly 22 percent of the estimated 3.2 million persons with chronic HCV infection. Moreover, chronic … [Read more...]
HRSA Announces Three New Funding Opportunities
February 13, 2013 by
The HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently issued three new Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Funding for Culturally Appropriate Interventions for Latinos Demo Sites and Evaluation Center (March 18 Deadline) These announcements solicit applications for a Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) program multi-site initiative, Culturally Appropriate Interventions of Outreach, Access, and … [Read more...]
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, the Key Moment is Now
February 11, 2013 by
During January’s World Economic Forum, international leaders welcomed former U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Mark Dybul as the new head of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Photo Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images Assuming his post as Executive Director of the world’s largest health financier, Dr. Dybul is poised to build on the momentum of recent scientific advances and bolster the fight for a healthier future. Right now is a key moment in this fight. The PEPFAR … [Read more...]
