Last year, on World AIDS Day, President Obama announced ambitious new targets in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, and on the domestic front focused on investment to support the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy to fight the epidemic here at home. In the President’s speech that day he said: “we are going to win this fight. But the fight is not over…” One year later, the President’s commitments have translated into real measurable progress. Internationally, we’ve seen that … [Read more...]
Children Front and Center in the Response to HIV/AIDS
September 25, 2012 by
This week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, world leaders are coming together to move the world’s health and development agenda forward. Among the key agenda items is securing a better future for children — which is also a central focus of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Meeting the needs of children, including both children living with HIV and those affected by the disease in other ways, is not peripheral to PEPFAR’s mission — it is … [Read more...]
UGANDA, “Option B+” prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, (PMTCT)
September 15, 2012 by
KAMPALA, September 2012 (PlusNews) - The government of Uganda has launched the UN World Health Organization's (WHO) "Option B+" to boost the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT). Uganda currently uses a PMTCT system similar to WHO's Option A, which involves single-dose antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for the mother - if her CD4 count, a measure of immune strength, is over 350 - from the 14th week, as well as ARVs during labour, delivery and one week post-partum. Pregnant women … [Read more...]
INFOGRAPHICS showing a serge for HIV Visualization & Data
September 11, 2012 by
How do you make data look good – and mean something too? Information graphics, or infographics as they’re commonly referred to, attempt to do just that: visualize data in an engaging way. Infographics turn numbers into pictures, or take select data and represent them in a way that is easy to understand and visually appealing. We’ve recently seen a surge in these two elements, visualization (presenting data visually) and data. As computer, mobile, and tablet screens grow larger and … [Read more...]
United Republic of Tanzania tackles mother-to-child transmission of HIV
September 6, 2012 by
NJOMBE REGION, United Republic of Tanzania, – A group of HIV-infected mothers and their partners have formed a mothers’ support group attached to their local health clinic in Kitulo Ward, Makete District, United Republic of Tanzania. Members of the group give psychosocial support to one another and assist HIV-positive women to follow up with their medical check-ups and treatment. The group also provides information to the community about preventing mother-to-child transmission … [Read more...]
Natural Disasters and People Living with HIV and AIDS
September 5, 2012 by
Hurricane Isaac’s impact on the Gulf Coast last week, ongoing forest fires in several Western states, and today’s earthquake in Costa Rica are all reminders of the importance of disaster preparedness, especially for people living with HIV/AIDS. In recognition of September’s observance of National Preparedness Month, we’re re-posting this blog entry from May 2011. Read more about National Preparedness Month from the Department of Homeland Security and the CDC. As if the tornadoes that recently … [Read more...]
“A picture is worth a thousand words”: Photo Sharing at AIDS 2012
September 4, 2012 by
Let's Stop HIV Together and Facing AIDS at AIDS 2012 This Labor Day, like many Americans, I spent time with friends and family and took photos that I shared with my mobile phone. Today, sharing photos on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram (we’ll write more about Instagram in a future post) offers an easy opportunity to share information about yourself and causes you care about with your social network. In the HIV community, photo sharing campaigns provide a means to mobilize around … [Read more...]
Ethiopia, HIV-positive mothers deliver babies free of the virus
August 4, 2012 by
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, August 2012 – Adanech* rushed to the Saris Health Centre in Addis Ababa when her labour pains started. Because of an effective mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme at the health centre, supported by UNICEF and its partners, Adanech has an excellent chance of having her wish come true. Like every mother in the world, she hoped to deliver a healthy baby. But Adanech is HIV positive, and without appropriate care, she could pass on the virus to her … [Read more...]
