AIDS.gov National HIV/AIDS Strategy Feed

African Americans and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:13:46 +0000

By Christopher Bates, M.P.A., Executive Director, Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Christopher Bates

During this February’s observance of Black History Month, we have observed National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) and heard about efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis disparities among the African American community. We must also take note of the importance that the National HIV/AIDS Strategy places on addressing HIV/AIDS and its disproportionate impact on African American communities in the United States.

The Strategy recognizes that Blacks comprise the greatest proportion of HIV/AIDS in various groups across the U.S., including women, heterosexual men, injection drug users, and infants. It also notes the extent to which the HIV epidemic among African Americans remains concentrated among Black gay men, who comprise the single largest group of African Americans living with HIV. As such, the NHAS affirms that efforts to reduce HIV among Blacks must forcefully confront the epidemic among Black gay and bisexual men..

The Strategy calls for efforts to respond to HIV/AIDS in the African American community in order to achieve its goals. For example, to achieve the first goal of reducing new HIV infections we are asked to refocus our HIV prevention efforts, targeting resources appropriately to communities that bear a heavy burden of HIV, including African Americans. In a podcast this month, our colleague Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, spoke about CDC’s efforts to do just this.

The Strategy also established as a measure of progress toward its third goal –reducing HIV-related health disparities — increasing by 2015 the proportion of HIV diagnosed Blacks with undetectable viral load by 20 percent.

All Americans will benefit the implementation of the actions detailed in the Strategy—from intensifying targeted prevention efforts, to establishing seamless systems to immediately link people to continuous and coordinated quality care when they learn they are infected with HIV, as well as efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. This month’s observance of NBHAAD is a reminder of the importance of persevering in these efforts.

President’s FY 2013 Budget Supports Implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:00:29 +0000

By James Albino, Senior Program Manager, Office of National AIDS Policy, The White House

James Albino

On Monday, President Obama sent his Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal to Congress. The budget proposal clearly demonstrates his determination to help the Nation achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and renews the President’s commitment to ending the AIDS pandemic. To address HIV/AIDS in the U.S., the 2013 Budget:

Supports HIV/AIDS research.
Expands investments in prevention and care.
Funds cross-cutting innovative efforts for care and prevention.
Expands the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
Increases funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and service integration.
Modernizes the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program.
Fights the stigma of HIV/AIDS.

Read more about the Fiscal Year 2013 budget’s HIV/AIDS elements in this fact sheet from the White House: Fighting the HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Supporting People Living with HIV/AIDS.

The President’s budget proposal advances our domestic HIV/AIDS agenda, strengthens programs, and supports our continuing efforts to achieve the National HIV/AIDS Strategy goals of reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV, and reducing HIV-related health disparities—bringing us closer to the goal of an AIDS-free generation.

Commemorating National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

On this, the 12th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I remember my sister-in-law’s fight with the disease. Tragically, she did not win that fight – she left behind a devastated husband and five-year old daughter. But it is in her memory, and the memory of all the friends and loved ones we have lost, that we vow to keep working toward the day when HIV/AIDS is history. This past December, on World AIDS Day, President Obama spoke about the United States’ commitment to ending HIV/AIDS. In a speech at George Washington University, he told the audience, “Make no mistake, we are going to win this fight. But the fight is not over … not by a long shot.” Sadly, this is especially true in the African-American community. Black Americans represent 12 percent of the U.S. population, but they account for 44 percent of new HIV infections. Among young black gay men alone, infections have increased by nearly 50 percent in just three years, and black women account for the largest share of HIV infections among women. We each must do our part by getting tested regularly, and by educating those in our community about what they can do to help end the epidemic. President Obama is committed to doing his part as well. In 2010, he released the nation’s first comprehensive HIV/AIDS plan. Together with Secretary Clinton, he has helped assemble a coalition of governments, healthcare professionals, and service providers. They have set a goal that would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago: an AIDS-free generation, in which virtually all children are born HIV-free, and prevention tools help them stay HIV-free throughout their lives. read more

Conversations on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from blog.aids.gov. February 7, 2012 marks the 12th year for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), a national community mobilization initiative that focuses on promoting HIV education, testing, involvement, and treatment to African Americans, who are disproportionately at risk for HIV/AIDS. As part of the Federal observance of NBHAAD, I spoke with three people who are helping to lead the response to HIV/AIDS in the African American community. They included: Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dr. Deborah Parham Hopson, Associate Administrator, HIV/AIDS Bureau, at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Mr. Ronald Johnson, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, AIDS United. Each of the interviewees had an opportunity to discuss how NBHAAD can make communities more effective in responding to HIV/AIDS. read more

Recognizing National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:10:03 +0000

In recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – February 7, Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention released the following message: On this National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we have greater opportunity than ever before to reverse the HIV epidemic in Black America and the nation as a whole. Today, we have a National HIV/AIDS Strategy that directs the nation to focus its prevention efforts on communities at greatest risk, including African-Americans – the racial group most severely impacted by HIV. We have an African-American community that is mobilized like never before, with many of the nation’s longstanding black national organizations making HIV prevention a key priority. Over the past several years, we have also witnessed tremendous breakthroughs in HIV prevention that can help alter the course of the epidemic. Rates of HIV testing are growing and are at an all-time high. Yet research now shows that early treatment not only provides improved health and much longer lives for people living with HIV, but it also can reduce their risk of passing the virus to partners by 96 percent. And new prevention tools – like a daily pill – have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection in some high-risk populations, when combined with other prevention measures. Now despite these important advances, the fight against this disease is far from over. The harsh reality is that today, even in the face of great hope and promise, African-American communities continue to be devastated by HIV. Although only 14 percent of the U.S. population, African-Americans account for almost half of those living and dying with HIV/ AIDS in this country. And HIV touches every corner of the black community and the impact of HIV has been especially devastating among black youth. Approximately 40 percent of new infections among blacks are now occurring among those aged 13 and 29 years. Young black gay and bisexual men are the most severely affected, experiencing a nearly 50 percent increase in new HIV infections over the past few years. In addition, HIV is now the third leading cause of death among black women in the prime of their lives – those aged 35 to 44 years. Now to turn the tide on this epidemic, we must confront the complex social and environmental conditions that help fuel the HIV epidemic in African-American communities. Lack of access to health care plays an important role. We know that those who don’t have the means to see a doctor may not get an HIV test or HIV treatment until it’s far too late. We also know that nearly one in five African-Americans are without health insurance. Where you live and where you choose your sexual partners also has a significant impact on your HIV risk. Higher rates of HIV that exist in black communities and the fact that African-Americans tend to select partners who are of the same race increases the likelihood of being exposed to HIV infection with each sexual encounter. Homophobia and stigma – far too prevalent in many communities – prevents too many in the black community from getting tested, and if HIV positive, from getting treated. HIV prevention in black communities remains one of our top public health priorities. Last year, for example, CDC invested more than half of its HIV prevention budget to fight HIV among African-Americans. We’ve expanded initiatives to reach more African-Americans with HIV testing and increased the number and reach of HIV prevention programs in black communities. We are working with our partners, like those in the Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative, to launch campaigns and undertake activities aimed at increasing HIV testing and awareness among black women and black gay and bisexual men, among other groups. Yet together we have much more work to do. Today, I call on the faith community, the public health and community leaders, teachers, parents and business leaders – both within and outside black communities – to maximize the powerful tools we now have at our fingertips and to work together to bring this epidemic to an end. I also urge each of you to do your part. Get tested for HIV. If you are sexually active, use condoms consistently and correctly to protect yourself and your partners. If you are a person living with HIV, get and stay in treatment and take the necessary steps to prevent HIV transmission to your partners. You can learn more at www.actagainstaids.org. We can end this crisis. And we must remember that HIV is completely preventable. By working together, we can put an end to this epidemic in our lifetimes. For more information, visit AIDS.gov James Albino is the Senior Program Manager in the Office of National AIDS Policy

Strategy in Action: HIV Testing Innovations Contribute to NHAS Goal

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:10:17 +0000

By Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Ronald Valdiserri

With an estimated 20 percent of people living with HIV in the United States unaware of their status, strengthening our HIV testing efforts will be key to achieving the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). Fortunately, many innovative HIV testing efforts are underway in communities across the country.

HIV testing is integral to HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Knowledge of one’s HIV status is important for preventing the spread of disease. Studies show that individuals who learn they are infected with HIV take active steps to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to their partners. Early diagnosis of HIV helps to ensure that people living with the virus are linked into care and receive life-saving treatment. And recently we’ve learned that antiretroviral treatment can also help to prevent the further spread of HIV. Therefore, the NHAS aims to increase, by 2015, from 79 percent to 90 percent the percentage of people living with HIV who know their serostatus (from 948,000 to 1,080,000 people).

From Maine to California, health departments, community-based organizations, substance abuse and mental health programs, health care providers, hospitals, and others are implementing novel and effective approaches to HIV testing to help contribute to this important outcome. Examples we’ve heard about recently include:

HIV Screening Offered at the Department of Motor Vehicles – An innovative example of the Strategy’s call for greater collaboration among government service providers is underway in Washington, DC, where HIV testing has been offered at the Department of Motor Vehicles for the past year. While waiting to get a driver’s license, temporary tags or other services, motorists visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles service center in the nation’s capital can get a free HIV test. This innovative collaboration between the DMV and the DC Department of Health (DOH) has tested more than 5,000 people since the program started in a single location in October 2010. According to Family and Medical Counseling Service Inc., the non-profit group that runs the program under a grant from DOH, between 25 and 35 people get tested every day, and anyone who is tested gets $7 off his or her DMV services. If someone tests positive, the nonprofit offers a ride to its office where staff can set up counseling and a doctor’s appointment. Building on the success of the DMV effort, officials expanded the program in late 2011 to offer testing at an office where Washington residents register for food stamps, Medicaid, and other government assistance. The same nonprofit will run the program there, offering as an incentive a $5 gift card to a local grocery store.

Testing at Community Activities – In Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the Oglala Sioux tribe partnered with its local Indian Health Service facility to increase the availability of HIV screening in nonclinical, community-based settings. An experienced and well-regarded public health nurse has taken HIV testing to events and venues where there may not normally be a health-related activity. Over the past year, this locally initiated program has offered confidential HIV testing at community potlucks, rodeos, basketball games and Pow Wows. Bringing HIV testing to nonclinical settings has allowed them to reach community members who may not be in regular health care, including young people, and provide them with HIV education and the opportunity for confidential HIV testing.

Promoting the HIV-STD Link and Encouraging Screening – Responding to a recent special surveillance report indicating a 23% increase in the number of primary and secondary syphilis cases in Chicago and a documented high rate of HIV-syphilis co-infection especially among MSM, the Chicago Department of Public Health recently launched the “Get Tested Chicago ” campaign to encourage individuals to get tested for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), including syphilis and, if diagnosed, to get into care. The public awareness campaign includes targeted billboards, radio public service announcements (PSAs), and bus advertisements aimed at early detection, testing and awareness. The campaign makes the link between syphilis, as well as other sexually transmitted infections, and HIV. It notes that studies have repeatedly demonstrated that people are more likely to become infected with HIV when other STDs are present. Moreover, it informs Chicagoans that if a person is HIV-positive, or if the immune system is weakened for any reason, syphilis (and other STIs) may progress faster and do more damage to the body.

“Would you or wouldn’t you take an HIV test?” – In San Diego, the “Lead the Way ” campaign reflects the Strategy’s call to intensify HIV prevention efforts in communities where HIV is most heavily concentrated. The campaign aims to have all adults in the city’s 92103 and 92104 ZIP codes answer the question, “Would you or wouldn’t you take an HIV test?” Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), designed and are implementing “Lead the Way,” with support from the National Institutes of Health. “UCSD researchers want to show that we can reduce the spread of HIV now, even without a vaccine. HIV testing is easy, confidential and is the simplest way to help our local community fight the spread of HIV/AIDS,” observed Susan Little, MD, professor of medicine in UCSD’s Division of Infectious Diseases and lead researcher of “Lead the Way.” The campaign operates a drop-in testing center and sets up mobile testing sites at a variety of community events and venues. In addition, trained HIV testers from UCSD’s Antiviral Research Center are visiting residential locations in randomly selected areas throughout the two ZIP codes to offer free rapid HIV tests that will provide results in minutes. Those that do not wish to participate in the finger-prick test will have the option of completing a brief survey. “Volunteering to take the quick finger-prick test or filling out the survey will help us understand why people will or will not take an HIV test. If we can understand the psychology, we can create more effective campaigns to promote testing. The ultimate goal is that everyone gets tested and those who need treatment receive it, so we can significantly curb the spread of HIV,” Dr. Little said.

These are just some of the many significant steps taken over past year to help the nation reach the Strategy’s goals. What innovative approaches to HIV testing are underway in your community? Share your examples to inspire others in the Comments section below.

For more information, visit CDC’s HIV Testing page or read the Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2011 fact sheet “HIV Testing in the United States”.

HRSA Announces $70M Grant Competition for HIV/AIDS Services for Women, Infants, Children and Youth

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:38:06 +0000

By AIDS.gov

Last week, the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part D Grants for Coordinated HIV Services and Access to Research for Women, Infants, Children, and Youth (WICY). According to HRSA the entire $70 million Part D program is being re-competed through this FOA in order to respond to changing HIV epidemiology and better address the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) by providing comprehensive health care services for the WICY populations in areas of greatest need for services.

There have been changes in HIV epidemiologic trends in the United States over the past two decades. Effective antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for therapy and prophylaxis have been discovered and are widely available. Transmission of HIV from mother to infant has decreased tremendously with universal prenatal HIV testing and ARV prophylaxis. Today, children comprise only 1 percent of the HIV epidemic in the United States. Women, especially women of color, now comprise 28 percent of all people living with HIV in the United States. And among persons aged 13-29 years, it is estimated that HIV incidence has increased 21% in recent years—driven largely by increased incidence in young men who have sex with men (MSM), especially young black MSM. Ryan White-funded services should ensure that newly identified PLWH, especially young African American MSM are linked into healthcare, provided ARV medications, and retained in care.

The FOA solicits grant applications from organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories to provide family-centered primary medical care to women, infants, children, and youth living with HIV/AIDS when payments for such services are unavailable from other sources. Funding is intended to improve access to primary HIV medical care for HIV-infected women, infants, children, and youth through the provision of coordinated, comprehensive, culturally and linguistically competent services.

HRSA’s Associate Administrator for the HIV/AIDS Bureau, Dr. Deborah Parham Hopson provides an overview of the funding announcement in this video:

Part D grantees are expected to provide HIV primary care, specialty medical care, and support services to the clients they serve. The FOA requires that, to the extent possible, program activities should strive to support the three primary goals of the NHAS. As encouraged by the NHAS, programs should seek opportunities to increase collaboration, efficiency, and innovation in the development of program activities to ensure success of the NHAS.

Grant applications are due March 16, 2012. HRSA estimates that approximately 200 awards will be made. Grant applicant technical assistance webinars are being provided. Visit the Target Center for more information.

Visit HRSA’s web site for more information about the Funding Opportunity Announcement and the Part D Program.

Persistence, Promise, and Hope for the End: A New Year’s Message

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:08:37 +0000

Ed. Note: Cross-posted from blog.AIDS.gov In the tumult of the holiday shopping, seasonal traffic delays, and endless bowls of eggnog, it was easy to miss the news that Science—one of the world’s leading scientific research journals—had chosen an HIV-related clinical trial as its 2011 Breakthrough of the Year. I caught that news while trying to wrap up some last-minute items, and, later, I took a moment to reflect on this announcement. This was perhaps the first time in many years that Science magazine had featured an issue related to HIV/AIDS research so prominently on its cover. I would like to highlight the importance of that piece of news and share some perspective on what it might mean for the future. In the December 23 issue, Science said: “The year 2011 saw scientific research that stretched from the farthest reaches of the universe to the deepest mysteries of the cell. Following a yearly tradition, Science‘s editors and news staff have selected one Scientific Breakthrough of the Year and nine runners-up.” Their choice was the HPTN 052 clinical trial, an international HIV-prevention trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). read more

Looking Ahead to 2012

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:41:03 +0000

By Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Howard Koh

As 2011 draws to a close and we look ahead with anticipation to the New Year, I want to honor the members of the HIV/AIDS community for their passion in advancing toward our goal of achieving an AIDS-free generation.

Through our collective commitment to implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and the Action Plan for Viral Hepatitis, our nation saw progress this year to match this passion. We have moved closer to the Strategy’s goals of reducing new HIV infections, improving access to HIV care, improving health outcomes for people living with HIV, and reducing HIV-related health disparities. Furthermore, by tackling the silent epidemic of hepatitis, we are helping so many co-infected while addressing another major public health challenge.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) was tasked by the NHAS to improve coordination of HIV/AIDS across the Department of Health and Human Services, and with other Federal agencies and departments. As a result of this new role, my office had the opportunity to work alongside a talented and committed cadre of Federal colleagues who stepped forward to support the Strategy’s goals and outcomes. Together, we have strengthened and coordinated HIV/AIDS activities across agencies and departments; better aligned resources to address the epidemic; promoted the “12 Cities” project as a way to enhance integration of Federal HIV/AIDS programs; moved toward common reporting metrics; and, clarified a path toward achieving better outcomes. In addition, our engagement during the past year with a broad array of non-Federal partners, including those from state and local governments, academia, the faith community, the business and philanthropic sectors, and the media, has unified and revitalized the national commitment to HIV/AIDS.

This year also marked the 30th year since the first reported cases of AIDS, a milestone that makes us reflect on our remarkable journey since those dark days when HIV infection was poorly understood and almost always fatal. Remarkably, three decades of scientific progress in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, coupled with the development of new policies, programs, and partnerships, has brought us to a pivotal moment where we can envision an AIDS-free generation.

In the coming year, we will continue to strengthen these efforts along with our Federal and non-Federal partners, by taking advantage of recent scientific discoveries, and implementing policies and programs that support HIV prevention, testing, and treatment efforts. The XIX International AIDS Conference set for July 2012 in Washington, DC, will be an exciting opportunity for us to join in a global effort to assess our progress on HIV/AIDS, evaluate recent scientific developments, and collectively chart a course forward toward an AIDS-free generation.

As I look to the challenges ahead, what motivates me most is the courage of the first patients with HIV/AIDS for whom I cared during my medical training in Boston all those years ago. Those patients, as well as those currently living with HIV/AIDS and advocates worldwide, continue to inspire our critical efforts to combat this devastating epidemic. By working together in the coming year, we can honor the legacy of those who have gone before us and make the HIV/AIDS Strategy’s life-saving goals a reality in the years to come.

On Mr. Crowley’s Departure, Our Appreciation

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:36:20 +0000

By Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This month, Mr. Jeffrey Crowley ends his tenure as President Obama’s Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy(ONAP) and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy, positions he has held since 2009. We acknowledge, with sincere gratitude, Jeff’s significant contributions to fulfilling the President’s commitment to develop the United States’ first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Since the Strategy’s release in July 2010, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Jeff and his colleagues in ONAP to implement the Strategy across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other lead Federal Departments.

Jeff often observes that he has accomplished nothing alone, pointing to the unprecedented levels of stakeholder input into the development of the Strategy and the tremendous commitment of time, energy, innovation, and dedication that we’ve witnessed at all levels of government, in the community, and from the private sector since the NHAS was released. But it is important to acknowledge that these outcomes were strengthened by Jeff’s thoughtful and steady leadership.

We wish Jeff all the best—including a well-deserved vacation—and know that he will remain a strong advocate for all of us who want to make the vision of the NHAS a reality in our Nation:

The United States will become a place where new HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic circumstance, will have unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination

Jeff recently shared his thoughts with AIDS.gov in this video interview, reflecting on the NHAS and looking ahead to opportunities for the HIV/AIDS community to continue advancing the Strategy’s goals.

AIDS Funders Release NHAS Toolkit for Philanthropic Sector

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:00:52 +0000

By Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Ronald Valdiserri

At a recent (12/5/11) summit of the philanthropic community, in Washington, DC, Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) launched the Funder’s Toolkit for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy . Throughout the development and implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), a strong emphasis has been placed on the need for the engagement and participation of all sectors of society in order to achieve the Strategy’s goals; the President himself has acknowledged that the Federal government cannot do this essential work alone. At this “all-hands-on-deck” moment, we must work in new ways, across disciplines and organizations, to make lasting progress on the American HIV/AIDS epidemic—especially in terms of reducing HIV-related health disparities. The summit and the new online toolkit are important steps in advancing the contributions of the nation’s vital philanthropic sector to achieving the vision of the NHAS.

During FCAA’s AIDS Philanthropy Summit, leaders from the philanthropic community and other interested stakeholders discussed how the NHAS offers an unprecedented opportunity for philanthropy – focused on AIDS and beyond – to partner with government, business, research, policy makers, faith communities, advocates and people living with HIV/AIDS in order to eventually bring about the end AIDS in America. I had the opportunity to participate in the summit, joining a panel of colleagues who discussed the implementation of the NHAS from state, local and federal perspectives.

FCAA developed the new online toolkit in response to stakeholders who’ve been asking how they might partner with and support the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The toolkit identifies opportunities for funders to help the NHAS reach its goals, and highlights the work of funders already supporting this historic and important strategy. To help inform and engage funders who may not yet be working in this arena, the toolkit also offers a “NHAS 101” section. It then provides eight specific recommendations on how philanthropy can align with the NHAS and highlights several current examples of work by funders in each area.

According to FCAA, the goals of the Toolkit include:

Providing private philanthropy with the context for making investment decisions related to the NHAS;
Identifying opportunities for investments by private philanthropy that will help this historic and important plan reach its goals;
Fostering greater collaboration among funders and more integrated efforts between private philanthropy and government;
Highlighting the work of funders and their grantees around the country;
Indicating opportunities for philanthropy to exercise its unique role in responding to populations and issues that governments cannot always address because of ideological, cultural and political barriers; and
Engaging funders beyond the immediate community of AIDS funders in supporting the NHAS.

Founded in 1987, FCAA is the only U.S.-based organization comprised of and for private philanthropic institutions concernedabout, engaged in or potentially active in the fight against HIV/AIDS. FCAA mobilizes the leadership, ideas and resources of U.S.-based funders to eradicate the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Please take a look at the NHAS toolkit; I know you will find it impressive. And I encourage you to share this important resource with friends and colleagues so that we can extend the vision of the NHAS throughout the United States: The United States will become a place where new HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic circumstance, will have unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination.

A Focus on Women and AIDS: Nationally and Abroad

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:11:49 +0000

“When black women feel forgotten, even though they account for most of the new cases among women, then we’ve got to do more." --President Obama, December 1, 2011 December 1 marked World AIDS Day, a time to remember those that have been affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic over the past 30 years. Today, we must also continue to recognize and push forth the efforts to aid individuals affected across the globe. In recent years, we have seen success in programs such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, but we must remember the toll this disease takes on our women, and ultimately our communities. Although rates of HIV/AIDS have been decreasing across many countries, there are many factors that have kept women and girls at risk. Globally, many prevention efforts and treatments still need to be successfully implemented in order to change uneven progress in the health of the world’s women and girls. With the world facing many battles, young women in many parts of the world are still becoming infected with HIV/AIDS. As of today, HIV is the leading cause of death and disease among women aged 15 to 49 years worldwide. Domestically, rates in many communities continue to effect women disproportionately, in better words: we’ve got to do more. President Obama and his Administration are committed to solving the AIDS crisis; an epidemic that has put women, and their families, at great risk. During his speech at an event called “The Beginning of the End of AIDS,” at George Washington University, marking World AIDS Day, the President announced that the Administration is directing $50 million in increased funding for domestic HIV/AIDS treatment and care. The data shows a clear need for this increase in funding. According to 2009 HIV surveillance data by the Centers for Disease Control, women represented 24% of all diagnoses of HIV infection among United States (US) adults and adolescents in 40 states. Black and Latina women are disproportionately affected at all stages of HIV infection compared with women of other races/ethnicities. At some point in her lifetime, 1 in 139 women will be diagnosed with HIV infection; with Black and Hispanic/Latina women at higher risk than women of other races/ethnicity. Over the past several years, the global HIV/AIDS epidemic has been met with increasing efforts across the international community and shown great potential. As stated by the Office of Women’s Health, numerous initiatives to promote prevention and treatment efforts have been implemented by governments and organizations worldwide. They have also noted that, in 33 countries, HIV incidence has dropped by more than 25 percent over the past decade; 22 of those countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. Even with these improvements, we must remember that challenges still remain. read more

NAACP Hosts Summit on HIV Among African Americans

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:38:31 +0000

By Lauren Broussard, LGSW, MPH, Public Health Analyst, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA); Phill Wilson, CEO of the Black AIDS Institute; Jeffrey Crowley, Director, White House Office of National AIDS Policy; Frances Ashe-Goins, HHS Office on Women’s Health; and Greg Millett, CDC, address the NAACP summit.

To raise greater awareness of the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS in the African American community and mobilize action by community members, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research co-hosted a summit in Washington, DC last month. The November 2 gathering, “The Forgotten Epidemic: Our Collective Response, Responsibility & Solution to the Black AIDS Crisis,” also highlighted how the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are helping to address HIV/AIDS in the African American community.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Despite representing only 14% of the U.S. population in 2009, CDC estimates that African Americans accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections in that year. Compared with members of other races and ethnicities, African Americans account for a higher proportion of HIV infections at all stages of disease—from new infections to deaths. African American gay and bisexual men and African American women continue to be among the hardest hit populations. (Read the CDC’s new fact sheet HIV Among African Americans.)

NAACP’s CEO, Benjamin Todd Jealous, and Chairman, Roslyn Brock, address the summit.

Audience members and panel participants spoke passionately about the role that social determinants of health play in sustaining those HIV-related health disparities. They also discussed their shared commitment to mobilizing to end the epidemic. “This is an issue for many of us; 41 percent of Black people in this country know somebody who has the virus. For many of us this is very close to our hearts,” said NAACP President and CEO Mr. Benjamin Jealous. “The association is no different. We’re committed to being a powerful voice … We’re committed to pushing the conversation even further at the church level and the community level.”

Addressing these stark HIV-related disparities during the summit were speakers from across the Federal government including Mr. Jeffrey Crowley, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, who discussed how the National HIV/AIDS Strategy calls for prioritizing efforts targeting heavily impacted communities, including African Americans, as well as the importance of increasing HIV awareness and testing and reducing stigma among the same populations. The approximately 80 participants also heard from CDC’s Dr. Jonathan Mermin, RADM Deborah Parham-Hopson of the HIV/AIDS Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration, Mr. Greg Millet of CDC, and Mr. Christopher Bates, Executive Director of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). Mr. Millett spoke to the importance of addressing HIV stigma and homophobia in the African American community as part of efforts to reduce new HIV infections and improve access to HIV care and health outcomes in the same community. Finally, Mr. Bates spoke about PACHA’s commitment to focusing attention on the populations and communities that have been hardest hit by the epidemic, including African American gay and bisexual men and African American women.

Offering a perspective from Congress were Representatives Barbara Lee of California and Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, DC. Congresswoman Lee, co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, spoke about her work to end HIV-related discrimination and stigma, which hinders the nation’s efforts to prevent new infections and retain those living with HIV in care and treatment.

“The NAACP has identified HIV/AIDS as a national priority,” said Ms. Shavon Arline, NAACP’s Director of Health Programs. “We realize this is the number one killer among African American women ages 25-44 and will continue to raise awareness and bring a sense of urgency to this epidemic to save our families.” The summit was just one of several HIV/AIDS awareness and advocacy activities underway at NAACP, which is a partner in CDC’s Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative.

Underscoring the organization’s commitment to addressing HIV/AIDS, Ms. Rosalyn Brock, the national chairperson of the NAACP, closed the meeting with a rousing call to action. Invoking the perseverance and dedication of America’s civil rights leaders she urged the participants to be persistent in their efforts to educate and inform friends, family, colleagues and leaders at the local, state and national levels about the continuing impact of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and what needs to be done to address it, particularly among communities of color.

Getting to Zero on World AIDS Day

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:02:12 +0000

To view this content, please download the Adobe Flash Player swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "swfobject2-id-13301158231", "430", "282", "7", "", { "config": "http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/102331/config.xml", "path_to_player": "http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "path_to_plugins": "http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins", "share_url": "http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/12/01/president-obama-world-aids-day", "shareTitle": "President Obama on World AIDS Day", "width": "430", "height": "282" }, { "swliveconnect": "default", "play": "false", "loop": "false", "menu": "false", "quality": "best", "scale": "showall", "align": "l", "salign": "tl", "wmode": "opaque", "bgcolor": "#FFFFFF", "version": "7", "allowfullscreen": "true", "allowscriptaccess": "sameDomain", "width": 430, "height": 282, "base": "http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/", "src": "http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf" }, { "id": "swf13301158231" }); Play/pause Mute/unmute Rewind and stop Read the Transcript | Download Video: mp4 (132MB) | mp3 (13MB) President Obama today marked World AIDS Day, speaking at an event called "The Beginning of the End of AIDS" where he outlined the progress that has been made in the global fight against the pandemic: Because we invested in anti-retroviral treatment, people who would have died, some of whom are here today, are living full and vibrant lives. Because we developed new tools, more and more mothers are giving birth to children free from this disease. And because of a persistent focus on awareness, the global rate of new infections and deaths is declining. So make no mistake, we are going to win this fight. AIDS has claimed 30 million lives over the past three decades, and while the rate of new infections is going down in many countries, the President acknowledged that it is not declining in America: The infection rate here has been holding steady for over a decade. There are communities in this country being devastated, still, by this disease. When new infections among young black gay men increase by nearly 50 percent in 3 years, we need to do more to show them that their lives matter. When Latinos are dying sooner than other groups, and when black women feel forgotten, even though they account for most of the new cases among women, then we’ve got to do more. So this fight is not over. Not for the 1.2 million Americans who are living with HIV right now. Not for the Americans who are infected every day. This fight is not over for them, it’s not over for their families, and as a consequence, it can’t be over for anybody in this room -- and it certainly isn’t over for your President. President Barack Obama delivers remarks on World Aid's Day event at George Washington University in Washington, Dec. 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) The President announced that he is directing $50 million in increased funding for domestic HIV/AIDS treatment and care -- an additional $15 million for the Ryan White program for HIV medical clinics across the country. and an additional $35 million for state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. He also pledged that America will continue to be a leader in the global fight against the pandemic: Now, as we go forward, we’ve got to keep refining our strategy so that we’re saving as many lives as possible. We need to listen when the scientific community focuses on prevention. That’s why, as a matter of policy, we’re now investing in what works -- from medical procedures to promoting healthy behavior. And that’s why we’re setting a goal of providing anti-retroviral drugs to more than 1.5 million HIV-positive pregnant women over the next two years so that they have the chance to give birth to HIV-free babies. We’re not going to stop there. We know that treatment is also prevention. And today, we’re setting a new target of helping 6 million people get treatment by the end of 2013. That’s 2 million more people than our original goal. Today’s event was sponsored by the ONE and (Red) campaigns and also featured remarks from Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, via satellite. Musician Bono, center, listens as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a World AIDS Day event at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Dec. 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Observing World AIDS Day

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:35:44 +0000

By Miguel Gomez, Director, AIDS.gov, and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Cross-posted from Disability.Blog)

Today, December 1, we commemorate World AIDS Day. This has been a year of reflection as we marked the 30th anniversary of the first reported cases of AIDS on June 5, 1981. AIDS is still here, and it affects all of us in the U.S. and around the world. AIDS has been, and continues to be, an important issue for the disability community, which has worked diligently to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and ensure that they have access to job skills training, employment services, housing and other supportive services.

This year has also been a year of hope; the result of key scientific and policy advances that now make it possible for us to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Now, it is time to look to the future.

Call for an AIDS-Free Generation

In her November 8^thspeech, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued an historic call for U.S. government leadership of worldwide efforts to achieve an “AIDS-free generation” by building on successful investments in HIV prevention, care, treatment and research.

Implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

One of those key “investments” has been the development of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). It has been more than a year since the release of the Strategy, which sets ambitious goals for addressing HIV/AIDS in this country. Since then, there have been community implementation dialogues across the nation and federal agencies have prepared and are now implementing operational plans that detail how they are pursuing the NHAS goals. We encourage you to review those plans, especially those of the Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration.

AIDS 2012 Comes to the United States

For the first time in more than 20 years, the International AIDS Conference returns to the U.S. in July 2012. More than 25,000 people will come to Washington, D.C. from all over the world to share the latest HIV research and engage in dialogue about ending the epidemic. This is an opportunity for the disability community to share lessons learned about the HIV/AIDS epidemic with colleagues from around the world. This week, the U.S. government launched a dedicated webpage for information about the conference.

Observing World AIDS Day

Please take a moment today to honor those lost to HIV/AIDS, celebrate how far we have come in 30 years and rededicate yourself to joining our efforts to achieve the vision of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and bring about an AIDS-free generation. If you have not decided how to observe the day, here are three simple ideas:

1. Participate in Facing AIDS. For the fourth year in a row, people all over the United States are sharing their messages to end the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. You can download a sign and write a message about why you are “facing AIDS,” take a picture of yourself holding the sign and upload it to the Facing AIDS gallery.

2. Encourage someone to get an HIV test – and get one yourself. Testing is one of the primary ways to end the spread of HIV, because people who know their HIV status can take measures to protect themselves and their partners. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that about 240,000 people in the U.S. who are living with HIV don’t know they are infected. Use the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Service Provider Locator to find an HIV testing location near you.

3. Use new media. Follow our AIDS.gov blog – featuring posts from the CDC, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal partners – and tweets from AIDS.gov. Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #WAD11 when sharing your thoughts about World AIDS Day on Twitter or Facebook.

We encourage you take time to reflect and take action on World AIDS Day.

As President Obama observed, realizing the vision of the NHAS “will require the commitment of governments at all levels, businesses, faith communities, philanthropy, the scientific and medical communities, educational institutions, people living with HIV and others.” This includes, of course, the disability community, which has been a solid ally in the response to HIV/AIDS for decades.

Are you ready for World AIDS Day, December 1?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:53:06 +0000

By Miguel Gomez, Director, AIDS.gov, and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

“Leading with Science. United for Action.” is the U.S. Government theme for World AIDS Day 2011. This year, we are thankful for scientific advances in the response to HIV/AIDS, leading Secretary Clinton to call for an “AIDS-free generation.” Creating an AIDS-free generation has never been a policy priority for the U.S. Government until now, because this goal would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Secretary Clinton’s call echoes the historic charge of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

On December 1st, people all around the world will commemorate World AIDS Day. We will think about how far we have come in the last 30 years and we at AIDS.gov want everyone to get involved.

What can you do?

Watch and share Secretary Hillary Clinton’s historic speech on HIV/AIDS which calls for an “AIDS Free Generation.”
Plan a community event and/or take a photo for Facing AIDS. Share your message of why we all need to step up and face AIDS together.
Print posters and tools from our World AIDS Day resources and use them at your events. Many are customizable and in English and Spanish.
Locate HIV testing and other HIV services: Use and share the HIV/AIDS Prevention & Service Providers Locator and add the widget to your website or blog.
Learn about and share the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Read about agencies who are putting the strategy in action and talk about it with your colleagues — what would it take to make the goals of the Strategy real in your community?
Follow our AIDS.gov blogs and tweets from guest blogs from the CDC and other Federal partners.
Use the hashtag #WAD11 when sharing your thoughts on Twitter or Facebook.

We are all united together to take at least one small action to commemorate World AIDS Day. What are you doing in your community?

New Update: Registering for the NHAS Implementation Dialogues

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:26:15 +0000

In earlier blog posts we outlined the topic and format for a series of regional dialogues that the White House Office of National AIDS Policy will convene to focus attention on issues related to implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. These events will be a forum for Federal, state and local agency representatives, researchers, clinicians, the HIV community, and leaders from the business, foundation, faith and media sectors to share their diverse expertise, and collaborative experience. The events are free, open to the public, anyone can attend. To help us better plan each event we ask that you register in advance for each of the events that you are interested in attending. You may register for as many events as you wish to attend. Register now. read more

Using National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) to Redouble Our Efforts to Respond to the HIV Prevention and Care Needs of Latinos

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:58:16 +0000

According to CDC estimates, 9,400 Latinos in the United States were newly infected with HIV in 2009. Latinos make up 16% of the U.S. population, but approximately 20% of new infections. Sixty-four percent (or nearly two-thirds) of all HIV infections in the Latino community occur among gay and bisexual men. Among women, 1,700 heterosexual Latinas became infected in 2009, making them more than four times more likely to become infected with HIV than white women. As Latinos working to support the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), we see our families and friends living with HIV and some who are newly infected, and we look at these numbers with a sense of both sadness and urgency. In this 30th year of the AIDS epidemic, it is completely unacceptable that HIV infection rates among Latinos are so high. National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) gives us an opportunity to re-examine the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on Latinos, and to redouble our efforts to find effective ways to respond to the epidemic in the U.S. The NHAS is helping us to do this by requiring us to focus on three important goals: reducing HIV incidence; increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS; and reducing HIV-related health disparities. The NHAS also calls on all of us to target our collective efforts at the populations at greatest risk. Latinos are not only disproportionately impacted, they also tend to be diagnosed later in the course of their HIV infection—meaning that they are more likely to develop AIDS within a year of their diagnosis. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Latinos progress more quickly to AIDS after an HIV diagnosis than any other U.S. racial or ethnic group. Exciting new research data has been published this year showing how effective HIV treatment can be at stopping HIV transmission and current drugs are helping HIV positive individuals lead long and healthy lives. If Latinos are being diagnosed with advanced HIV infection and are quickly progressing to AIDS, they are missing important opportunities to get the maximum benefits of the highly effective treatments we currently have available. read more

Seattle Meeting Focuses on Ideas to Strengthen the HIV Workforce

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:06:39 +0000

On October 4, 2011, the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) hosted the second in a series of five Implementation Dialogues in Seattle Washington at Swedish Medical Center. The theme for this meeting was “Building Capacity Within the HIV Workforce so that it Delivers What We Need Today and Tomorrow”. The meeting was an opportunity to focus attention on the multi-faceted challenges we face with the HIV workforce, spark conversations around this issue, and encourage action and collaboration at the State and local levels. The meeting began with a Federal update, followed by a presentation on HIV workforce issues, a panel discussion, and a discussion between the panel and the audience, which included policy makers, academic experts, clinicians, providers, community advocates, patients, and other health professionals. ONAP Director Jeffrey S. Crowley opened the meeting with remarks about the challenges we face with the HIV workforce and opportunities made available in the Affordable Care Act to bolster the workforce of clinicians and other health care providers. Dr. Todd Strumwasser, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Swedish Medical Center, provided opening remarks and emphasized that this meeting was a way to reaffirm our collective commitment to focus more attention on the domestic epidemic in our communities and around the country. Dr. David Spach, the Principal Investigator for the Northwest AIDS Education and Training Center at the University of Washington, gave an informative presentation on the key factors contributing to HIV workforce shortages in the nation. Dr. Spach focused on several key issues regarding the workforce supply, including the lack of exposure to an HIV curriculum during a medical student’s academic or residency training; the complexity of providing HIV care; the financial disincentives faced by medical students and medical residents; the competition between global HIV health work and domestic HIV health work; and the reluctance of some individuals to work with people living with HIV. Dr. Spach’s provided several recommendations that could be adopted to expand the HIV workforce, including the importance of active recruiting during a clinician’s medical school training or during their residency; increasing the amount of pilot programs for recruitment; supporting mentorships and building relationships between current HIV clinicians and future clinicians; providing innovative financial incentives for clinicians; and developing more programs that increase provider diversity. read more

Birmingham Kicks Off First of Five Fall Implementation Dialogues on the NHAS

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:15:22 +0000

The first of a series of five Implementation Dialogues was held on September 27 in Birmingham, Alabama, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Robinson Stephens Preforming Arts Center. The meeting focused on “Incorporating Prevention and Care Research Into HIV Programs” brought together speakers and panelists from across federal, state and local government, as well as experts from the HIV/AIDS community and research areas. Jeffrey S. Crowley, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) welcomed the more than 150 guests, and thanked them for their work in support of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. UAB President Carol Garrison, and Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also spoke. Dr. Koh encouraged participants to make the National HIV/AIDS Strategy real in the southeast and around the country. He recalled the early days of the AIDS epidemic thirty years ago, and the extreme fear and stigma surrounding the treatment of the first patients, and the challenge of providing care with no plan or coordinated approach in place. He noted that while there is still a great deal of stigma and health disparities around HIV/AIDS, there is now a plan of action in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which he said has, “catalyzed the country”. read more

Mobilizing Public and Private Sector Investments to Support Critical HIV Services

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:25:40 +0000

The White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation and the Office of National AIDS Policy held a joint meeting on Friday, September 9th on “Mobilizing Public and Private Sector Investments to Support the Goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy,” in which 25 members from the private sector and philanthropic community gathered to discuss ways to enhance existing support and investments targeted at HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, as well as to strategize on ways to bring new people to the table to foster new investments and commitments. Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) Director, Jeffrey Crowley welcomed guests and reiterated the President’s message that the Federal government cannot do this essential work alone. At this “all-hands-on-deck” moment, we must work together in new ways to make lasting progress on persistent social problems. Marta Urquilla, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, explained how the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), which invested in AIDS United as part of its inaugural portfolio in 2010, reflects a new way of doing business for the federal government. The SIF invests in intermediaries to identify promising community solutions that are achieving results and support the growth, validation and scale of those innovations. A vehicle for public-private investment, the SIF leverages 3 private dollars for every 1 Federal dollar, and drives capital to communities in need, including those that are historically under-resourced. read more

Addressing the HIV Epidemic among Gay and Bisexual Men

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

In 1981, our nation and its public health system were grappling with a new disease that was taking the lives of gay men across the United States. Thirty years later, HIV/AIDS continues to be a crisis among gay and bisexual men. The latest data show men who have sex with men (MSM) remain most affected in this country. Although MSM represent 2% of the population, they account for 64% of all new infections (including 3% among MSM who are injection drug users [IDUs]). CDC estimates that there were more than 30,000 new HIV infections in 2009 among MSM, including MSM-IDU. Though the numbers have gone down dramatically, approximately 7,000 MSM with an AIDS diagnoses still die each year and nearly 300,000 MSM with AIDS have died since the beginning of the epidemic. Today, we commemorate the fourth annual National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an observance founded by the National Association of People with AIDS to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among gay and bisexual men. This annual observance is one way we are focusing attention and resources on those populations at highest risk for HIV infection, including gay and bisexual men. This focus is a top priority outlined in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). read more

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day: A Perspective from the National Institutes of Health

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:31:52 +0000

On September 18, 2011, we mark the fourth observance of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day. The remarkable success of antiretroviral therapies in prolonging the lives of HIV-infected individuals who have access to and can tolerate these drugs has led to many more HIV-infected people living into middle and old age. In 2008, an estimated 29 percent of HIV-infected adults in the U.S. were at least 50 years of age, and in 2009, individuals in that age group accounted for 17% of all new HIV diagnoses. Both of these percentages have been increasing in recent years. As the benefits of improved therapies for HIV continue to accrue, research into the complex relationship between aging and HIV becomes increasingly critical. A major goal of HIV and aging research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to achieve greater understanding of how premature aging of the immune system may be occurring in people living with HIV, and clarifying the fundamental mechanisms of inflammation. Understanding the complex interaction between HIV and aging will require considerable effort on multiple fronts. The NIH Institutes and Centers support a broad range of research on HIV and aging. For example, this past April, three NIH Institutes (National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) announced that they will fund research into the effects of HIV on the brain in aging populations taking antiretroviral therapy. Within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) programs, research on HIV and aging is ongoing in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) and the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). These long term follow-up studies of HIV infected women (WIHS) and men (MACS) have defined some of the important differences in HIV risk, pathogenesis and treatment response between the sexes. The International Epidemiologic Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) provides domestic and international information about the epidemic including pathogenesis differences between HIV infected adults who are growing older and newly infected older individuals. In addition, studies conducted by the Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR), AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), and the International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT) are pursuing HIV and aging-related scientific questions. read more

Latest Update: Registering for the NHAS Implementation Dialogues

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:23:47 +0000

NHAS Implementation Dialogues In two earlier blog posts we outlined the topic and format for a series of regional dialogues that the White House Office of National AIDS Policy will convene to focus attention on issues related to implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. These events will be a forum for Federal, state and local agency representatives, researchers, clinicians, the HIV community, and leaders from the business, foundation, faith and media sectors to share their diverse expertise, and collaborative experience. Registering for the Events The events are free, open to the public, anyone can attend. To help us better plan each event we ask that you register in advance for each of the events that you are interested in attending. You may register for as many events as you wish to attend. Register now. Upon submitting your registration, you will receive a detailed confirmation letter via email. Dialogue Topics and Locations: Updated September 12, 2011 We are planning five dialogues on distinct topics related to implementing the Strategy. Incorporating Prevention and Care Research Into HIV Programs Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Time: 2:00 – 4:30 pm Location: Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, University of Alabama, B 1200 10th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL Building Capacity within the HIV Workforce so that it Delivers What We Need Today and Tomorrow Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 Time: 5:30 – 8:00 pm Location: Swedish Medical Center, Glaser Auditorium, 747 Broadway, Seattle, WA Sustaining the Community-Based Response to HIV Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011 Time: 3:00 – 5:30 pm (new time) Location: University of Pennsylvania, Jon M. Huntsman Hall, Dhirubhai Ambani Auditorium, 3730 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA Fostering Collaboration Between all Public and Private Stakeholders at the State and Local Level Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm Location: Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801 Maximizing Impact in Low-Prevalence Jurisdictions Des Moines, Iowa (Early November 2011) Additional dates, times, locations will be announced soon. Please continue to check the ONAP and AIDS.gov websites for more information. James Albino is Senior Program Manager at the Office of National AIDS Policy

Update: National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Dialogues

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:35:36 +0000

Our Federal partners, as well as so many community members, people living with HIV, funders, businesses, faith leaders and other stakeholders have demonstrated encouraging support and enthusiasm for the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Perhaps one of the most encouraging developments has been the way the NHAS has helped steer the national HIV conversation in the direction of the Strategy’s goals. States and local jurisdictions have already begun the process of developing their own Strategy and implementation plans. NHAS Implementation Dialogues: To sustain this effort the Office of National AIDS Policy will convene a series of regional dialogues to focus attention on issues related to implementation of the Strategy. These dialogues will serve as a forum for Federal and state agency representatives, researchers, clinicians, the HIV community, and leaders from the business, foundation, faith and media sectors to share their diverse expertise, and collaborative experience. We are planning five dialogues on distinct topics related to implementing the Strategy. Here are the updated dialogue topics and locations: read more

Announcing National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Dialogues

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:07:27 +0000

As we shared in our blog last month, significant progress has been made in implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (Strategy) in its first year. We are proud of the enthusiasm, support and contributions of our Federal partners, as well as so many community members, people living with HIV, funders, businesses, faith leaders and other stakeholders. As these stakeholders have demonstrated, the success of the Strategy doesn’t lie in the hands of the Federal government alone. One of the most encouraging developments over the last year has been the manner in which the Strategy has served to steer a conversation about HIV in the direction of the strategic steps that individuals, communities, states, and the Nation need to take to achieve the Strategy’s goals. In various state and local jurisdictions across the country, agencies have either developed their own Strategy implementation plans, or they have started the process of doing so. Additionally, numerous HIV services and advocacy organizations have held meetings and community dialogues about what the Strategy means for their own communities. These actions are critically important and must continue. read more

White House Commemorates World Hepatitis Day 2011

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:43:37 +0000

Today, I was honored to participate in a special White House event to commemorate the first official World Hepatitis Day. This event was one of many held across the United States and around the world for communities to join together and focus attention on the global health threat of viral hepatitis and promote actions to confront it. Worldwide, one in twelve persons are estimated to be living with viral hepatitis and about one million people around the world die every year because of viral hepatitis. Many people infected with viral hepatitis are unaware of their status, and as a result, may unknowingly transmit the infection to others. Without knowing their status, these patients also face the possibility of developing otherwise preventable debilitating or fatal liver disease. Last year, in recognition of this “silent epidemic,” the World Health Assembly resolved that July 28 should be designated as World Hepatitis Day, providing an opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and recognize it as a major global health problem. The theme for this first official World Hepatitis Dayis “This is hepatitis... Know it. Confront it. Hepatitis affects everyone, everywhere.” In the United States, an estimated 3.5-5.3 million persons are living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus. Viral hepatitis impacts Americans of all backgrounds but affects some U.S. populations more than others. Half of all hepatitis B infected persons in the U.S. are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; African-Americans are twice as likely to be infected with hepatitis C when compared with the general population. To actively address these disparities and to accelerate our efforts to fight viral hepatitis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed an Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis. The plan outlines actions to increase viral hepatitis awareness and knowledge among health care providers and communities, and steps that will improve access to quality prevention, care, and treatment services for viral hepatitis. Improved coordination across HHS, along with the active engagement of other governmental and nongovernmental partners—including informed communities—will be crucial to our success. Today’s World Hepatitis Day Event was hosted by the White House Office of National AIDS Policy with active support from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. Dr. Howard K. Koh, the Assistant Secretary for Health, emphasized that marking this day in such a special way provides an opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to focus more attention on this pressing public health issue. Dr. Koh was among the dignitaries who provided opening remarks at the event and read a World Hepatitis Day proclamation on behalf of President Obama. I was pleased to then hear from several members of Congress, including Representatives Bill Cassidy, Judy Chu, Michael Honda, Hank Johnson, and Barbara Lee, who have been leaders in raising hepatitis awareness. I moderated a panel that highlighted opportunities across the federal government to implement the HHS Action Plan for Viral Hepatitis. This discussion was followed by a session led by health care providers and patients living with viral hepatitis who shared their individual experiences with fighting viral hepatitis. Mr. Jeffrey Crowley, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, provided a closing statement to the audience, which included government leaders, policy makers, community advocates, patients, and health professionals. To learn more about World Hepatitis Day or about viral hepatitis visit the CDC’s website. Also, read the Presidential Proclamation–World Hepatitis Day. Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H. is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy at One Year

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:09:31 +0000

It’s been one year since we launched the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy and today we are releasing an implementation update to keep you up to speed on the latest work. We plan to release a more comprehensive progress report after the conclusion of the calendar year, but as we mark this critical first year, we wanted to provide some reflections on key first-year achievements. The Strategy details President Obama’s three goals: 1) reduce the number of new HIV infections, 2) increase access to care and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, and 3) reduce HIV-related health disparities. Our mission is for the United States to become a place where new HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic circumstance, will have unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination. As you will see from the report, agencies throughout government are stepping up to the plate and stakeholders from all sectors are taking action. President Barack Obama holds meeting on AIDS policy with members of the Domestic Policy Council in the Oval Office, July 12, 2011. Participating in the briefing with the President are, from left: Greg Millett, Senior Scientist and HHS/CDC Liaison to the Office of National AIDS Policy; Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes; Jeffrey Crowley; Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy; and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Ultimately, for the Strategy to be truly successful, we need you. The Strategy isn’t about what government can do alone. We know that businesses, the faith community, and all sectors have a role to play. The following video above everyday leaders implementing the strategy in their own communities. We hope that you can use this to engage more people in our collective efforts to implement the Strategy and energize key partners to continue their efforts. Go to AIDS.gov to receive more information and take action. We thank everyone that has worked with us so far, and we look forward to new and productive collaborations over the coming year. Download the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Update. Jeffrey Crowley is the Director of the Office of National AIDS Strategy.

National HIV Testing Day 2011

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:29:25 +0000

Note: Today President Obama issued a statement on National HIV Testing Day Thirty years ago, at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, there was no test for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. For many, there was only the long and worrisome wait for the signs of infection. Once those signs appeared, no treatment for the virus was available. I personally cared for many, many patients in this era, and I am thankful that those days are over. Today, HIV testing is accurate, widely available, and often free—and treatment can help people living with HIV enjoy long, healthy lives, especially when they get diagnosed early. The good news is that more people are being tested for HIV than ever before. It is estimated that almost 83 million American adults between 18 and 64 have been tested for HIV, as of 2009. That’s an increase of more than 11 million from 2006 when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) recommended that HIV testing become a routine part of medical care for adults and adolescents. read more

Inspiration for a Future Free of HIV

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:42:28 +0000

This week, First Lady Michelle Obama is visiting South Africa and Botswana, focusing on youth leadership, education, health and wellness. Today, Mrs. Obama met with organizations dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS in South Africa, including groups that use soccer to convene and educate children about HIV/AIDS. Tomorrow, she will meet with a Teen Club in Botswana that teaches teens about leadership and how to educate others about HIV. During her meetings with African youth, Mrs. Obama is highlighting the importance of youth leadership in fighting HIV/AIDS. These young men and women grew up watching family members and friends taken by this devastating virus. But today they know there is hope. They have seen dramatic change in recent years – thanks to strong leadership from their Government with support from the American people – where people who were once dying are now living. These youth can be the generation that ends HIV/AIDS. The United States is proud to be supporting South Africa, Botswana and countries around the world in leading their fight against HIV/AIDS. In South Africa, there are more than one million people on life-saving HIV treatment today, a far cry from the 50,000 people on treatment in all of sub-Saharan Africa in 2003. And Botswana is now closing in on the goal of eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. These successes are being replicated in countries around the world thanks to support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Globally, the United States is supporting more than 3.2 million people on life-saving treatment. In 2010, PEPFAR directly supported 11 million people on care, including 3.8 million orphans and vulnerable children. And PEPFAR-supported programs reached over 600,000 mothers with services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, leading to more than 114,000 infants being born HIV-free in 2010 alone. For millions of youth around the world, these numbers represent parents, friends and community leaders who are now living with HIV instead of dying from it. As we focus on results, America is also supporting countries so they can lead their fight in the future and continue to save even more lives. The Obama Administration is more committed than ever to build on the successes of the last decadeand to continue to work with other governments and partners as we all work toward our shared goal of a world without HIV/AIDS. And we hope the millions of lives saved to date will inspire youth in Africa and around the world to continue their fight for an HIV-free future. Ambassador Eric Goosby is the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator at the U.S. Department of State.