Thursday,
June 27 is National HIV Testing Day
National HIV Testing
Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign to encourage people of all ages to
"Take the Test, Take Control."
Too many people don't know they have HIV. In the United States, nearly 1.1 million people are living with HIV, and almost one in five don't know they are infected. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV. If you have HIV, getting medical care and taking medicines regularly helps you live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others. Find a local testing location here
Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,
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Showing posts with label AIDs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AIDs. Show all posts
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Thursday, June 27 is National HIV Testing Day
Friday, July 20, 2012
FDA Approves PrEP Drug Truvada
On July 16, 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Truvada,
the first drug approved to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected
individuals. Taken daily, Truvada is intended as a pre-exposure prophylaxis
(PrEP) for HIV-uninfected individuals who are at high risk of infection.
According to the FDA press
release, a PrEP indication means Truvada is approved for use as part of a
comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that includes other prevention methods,
such as safe sex practices, risk reduction counseling and regular HIV testing.
Posted at GLMA Health update, reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com See FDA Press release below.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), the first drug approved to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals who are at high risk of HIV infection and who may engage in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners. Truvada, taken daily, is to be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in combination with safer sex practices to reduce the risk of sexually-acquired HIV infection in adults at high risk.
The FDA previously approved Truvada to be used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-infected adults and children 12 years or older.
As part of PrEP, HIV-uninfected individuals who are at high risk will take Truvada daily to lower their chances of becoming infected with HIV should they be exposed to the virus. A PrEP indication means Truvada is approved for use as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that includes other prevention methods, such as safe sex practices, risk reduction counseling, and regular HIV testing.
"Today’s approval marks an important milestone in our fight against HIV," said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. "Every year, about 50,000 U.S. adults and adolescents are diagnosed with HIV infection, despite the availability of prevention methods and strategies to educate, test, and care for people living with the disease. New treatments as well as prevention methods are needed to fight the HIV epidemic in this country."
As a part of this action, the FDA is strengthening Truvada’s Boxed Warning to alert health care professionals and uninfected individuals that Truvada for PrEP must only be used by individuals who are confirmed to be HIV-negative prior to prescribing the drug and at least every three months during use. The drug is contraindicated for PrEP in individuals with unknown or positive HIV status. The FDA strongly recommends against such use.
Truvada for PrEP is being approved with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to minimize the risk to uninfected individuals of acquiring HIV infection and to reduce the risk of development of resistant HIV-1 variants. The central component of this REMS is a training and education program to assist prescribers in counseling individuals who are taking or considering Truvada for PrEP. The training and education program will not restrict distribution of Truvada but will provide information about the importance of adhering to the recommended dosing regimen and understanding the serious risks of becoming infected with HIV while taking Truvada for the PrEP indication.
"The REMS for Truvada for the PrEP indication is aimed at educating health care professionals and uninfected individuals to help ensure its safe use for this indication without placing an unnecessary burden on health care professionals and patients," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
Truvada’s safety and efficacy for PrEP were demonstrated in two large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. The iPrEx trial evaluated Truvada in 2,499 HIV-negative men or transgender women who have sex with men and with evidence of high risk behavior for HIV infection, such as inconsistent or no condom use during sex with a partner of positive or unknown HIV status, a high number of sex partners, and exchange of sex for commodities. Results showed Truvada was effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection by 42 percent compared with placebo in this population. Efficacy was strongly correlated with drug adherence in this trial.
The Partners PrEP trial was conducted in 4,758 heterosexual couples where one partner was HIV-infected and the other was not (serodiscordant couples). The trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of Truvada and tenofovir versus placebo in preventing HIV infection in the uninfected male or female partner. Results showed Truvada reduced the risk of becoming infected by 75 percent compared with placebo.
No new side effects were identified in the clinical trials evaluating Truvada for the PrEP indication. The most common side effects reported with Truvada included diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, and weight loss. Serious adverse events in general, as well as those specifically related to kidney or bone toxicity, were uncommon.
As a condition of approval, Truvada’s manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, Inc., is required to collect viral isolates from individuals who acquire HIV while taking Truvada and to evaluate these isolates for the presence of resistance. Additionally, the company is required to collect data on pregnancy outcomes for women who become pregnant while taking Truvada for PrEP and to conduct a trial to evaluate drug adherence and its relationship to adverse events, risk of seroconversion, and resistance development in seroconverters. Gilead has committed to provide national drug utilization data in order to better characterize individuals who utilize Truvada for a PrEP indication and to develop an adherence questionnaire that will assist prescribers in identifying individuals at risk for low compliance.
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is based in Foster City, Calif.
For more information:
Posted at GLMA Health update, reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com See FDA Press release below.
FDA approves first drug for reducing the risk of sexually acquired HIV infection
Evidence-based approach enhances existing prevention strategiesToday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), the first drug approved to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals who are at high risk of HIV infection and who may engage in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners. Truvada, taken daily, is to be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in combination with safer sex practices to reduce the risk of sexually-acquired HIV infection in adults at high risk.
The FDA previously approved Truvada to be used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-infected adults and children 12 years or older.
As part of PrEP, HIV-uninfected individuals who are at high risk will take Truvada daily to lower their chances of becoming infected with HIV should they be exposed to the virus. A PrEP indication means Truvada is approved for use as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that includes other prevention methods, such as safe sex practices, risk reduction counseling, and regular HIV testing.
"Today’s approval marks an important milestone in our fight against HIV," said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. "Every year, about 50,000 U.S. adults and adolescents are diagnosed with HIV infection, despite the availability of prevention methods and strategies to educate, test, and care for people living with the disease. New treatments as well as prevention methods are needed to fight the HIV epidemic in this country."
As a part of this action, the FDA is strengthening Truvada’s Boxed Warning to alert health care professionals and uninfected individuals that Truvada for PrEP must only be used by individuals who are confirmed to be HIV-negative prior to prescribing the drug and at least every three months during use. The drug is contraindicated for PrEP in individuals with unknown or positive HIV status. The FDA strongly recommends against such use.
Truvada for PrEP is being approved with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to minimize the risk to uninfected individuals of acquiring HIV infection and to reduce the risk of development of resistant HIV-1 variants. The central component of this REMS is a training and education program to assist prescribers in counseling individuals who are taking or considering Truvada for PrEP. The training and education program will not restrict distribution of Truvada but will provide information about the importance of adhering to the recommended dosing regimen and understanding the serious risks of becoming infected with HIV while taking Truvada for the PrEP indication.
"The REMS for Truvada for the PrEP indication is aimed at educating health care professionals and uninfected individuals to help ensure its safe use for this indication without placing an unnecessary burden on health care professionals and patients," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
Truvada’s safety and efficacy for PrEP were demonstrated in two large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. The iPrEx trial evaluated Truvada in 2,499 HIV-negative men or transgender women who have sex with men and with evidence of high risk behavior for HIV infection, such as inconsistent or no condom use during sex with a partner of positive or unknown HIV status, a high number of sex partners, and exchange of sex for commodities. Results showed Truvada was effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection by 42 percent compared with placebo in this population. Efficacy was strongly correlated with drug adherence in this trial.
The Partners PrEP trial was conducted in 4,758 heterosexual couples where one partner was HIV-infected and the other was not (serodiscordant couples). The trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of Truvada and tenofovir versus placebo in preventing HIV infection in the uninfected male or female partner. Results showed Truvada reduced the risk of becoming infected by 75 percent compared with placebo.
No new side effects were identified in the clinical trials evaluating Truvada for the PrEP indication. The most common side effects reported with Truvada included diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, and weight loss. Serious adverse events in general, as well as those specifically related to kidney or bone toxicity, were uncommon.
As a condition of approval, Truvada’s manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, Inc., is required to collect viral isolates from individuals who acquire HIV while taking Truvada and to evaluate these isolates for the presence of resistance. Additionally, the company is required to collect data on pregnancy outcomes for women who become pregnant while taking Truvada for PrEP and to conduct a trial to evaluate drug adherence and its relationship to adverse events, risk of seroconversion, and resistance development in seroconverters. Gilead has committed to provide national drug utilization data in order to better characterize individuals who utilize Truvada for a PrEP indication and to develop an adherence questionnaire that will assist prescribers in identifying individuals at risk for low compliance.
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is based in Foster City, Calif.
For more information:
GLMA GLBT Health Digest Update
Special Edition: International AIDS
Conference
Message from GLMA’s Executive Director Hector Vargas
Responding to the call to advocate for policy and services for people with HIV and AIDS, GLMA’s genesis was during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. In the three decades since our founding in San Francisco in 1981, GLMA has broadened its scope and mission to ensure equality in healthcare for LGBT people as well as people living with HIV/AIDS.
In this special edition of the LGBT Health Digest, GLMA wishes to welcome International AIDS Conference participants to our new home, Washington, DC, and to highlight some of the many affiliated events taking place during the conference.
July 19, 2012 Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,
News: FDA Approves PrEP Drug Truvada
News: FDA Approves At-Home HIV Test
International AIDS Conference
Conference Affiliated Events
HIV/AIDS Content at GLMA’s 30th Annual Conference
FDA Approves PrEP Drug Truvada
On July 16, 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Truvada, the first drug approved to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals. Taken daily, Truvada is intended as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV-uninfected individuals who are at high risk of infection. According to the FDA press release, a PrEP indication means Truvada is approved for use as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that includes other prevention methods, such as safe sex practices, risk reduction counseling and regular HIV testing.
Back to Table of Contents
FDA Approves At-Home HIV Test
In follow up to a May 17th LGBT Health Digest item, on July 3, 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter HIV test. According to the LA Times, the new test, OraQuick, which works by detecting antibodies in a swab from the gums, will allow people to test themselves at home and receive preliminary results in less than 30 minutes. The FDA emphasized that any results from a self-administered test should not be considered final and that anyone receiving a positive result should follow up with a healthcare provider. OraQuick will be available in supermarkets and pharmacies in October.
Back to Table of Contents
International AIDS Conference
The International AIDS Conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance to assess where we are, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt and collectively chart a course forward.
The AIDS 2012 program will present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV. A variety of session types – from abstract-driven presentations to symposia, bridging and plenary sessions – will meet the needs of various participants. Other related activities, including the Global Village, satellite meetings, exhibitions and affiliated independent events, will contribute to an exceptional opportunity for professional development and networking.
Back to Table of Contents
Conference affiliated events include:
Return to Lisner
July 24, 2012 at 7pm
Whitman-Walker Health will be hosting Return to Lisner, the 29th anniversary of DC's first AIDS forum. In 1983, there was nothing but fear and uncertainty around AIDS. Today, there is hope and optimism for the future. Join us for an exciting and emotional forum on the future of the epidemic.
GLMA is proud to be a community co-sponsor of Return to Lisner.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt
As Washington, DC prepares to host the XIX International AIDS Conference, the AIDS Memorial Quilt will once again be unfolded in our Nation’s Capital. During the week of July 21, sections of domestic and international Quilt will fill parts of the National Mall and “blanket” the Capital Region with displays in more than 50 other public spaces and venues. The Quilt provides balm for the painful wounds of grief, calms waters made turbulent by controversy and enlists everyone who sees it to play a role in stopping the epidemic. With its unparalleled ability to educate and advocate effectively – not with facts and figures, but with emotion embedded in powerful personal expression – The Quilt will bring much needed visual strength, expand the audience, add levels of context, meaning and relevance, and help inspire a new generation of individuals to respond to HIV/AIDS with compassion and resolve. For more information, please click here.
Gay Men’s Health Summit
July 19-22, 2012
Since the first Gay Men's Health Summit in 1999, participants have gathered in what is now a biennial event drawing over 300 activists to: Replace the HIV-centric paradigm of health advocacy for gay men with holistic models that integrate (but do not default to) HIV; Rethink the crisis paradigm of HIV work and embrace contemporary understandings, meanings and implications of HIV for gay men of all colors and classes; Challenge deficit-based models for work with gay men and replace them with asset-based approaches; Strategically and politically confront structural forces challenging the well-being of gay and bi men; Embrace a "big tent" vision of community, respecting diverse ways of organizing sex and relationships among gay men: shame and guilt are the health hazards, rather than specific sex practices and sex cultures; Launch only efforts that are neither overtly or covertly sanitizing, sanctimonious or moralistic.
Making Sex a Crime and Spit a Deadly Weapon: The Criminal Treatment of HIV
July 20, 2012 from 10am – 5pm
This is a free event through the Positive Justice Project (PJP) to inform and mobilize against HIV criminalization in the US. PJP is a working consortium devoted to ending the abuse of the criminal law against HIV-positive people. PJP includes HIV advocates, researchers, health and social service providers, media representatives, policy analysts, law enforcement and people living with HIV. PJP engages in federal and state policy advocacy, legal resource creation and support and on educating and mobilizing communities and policy makers in the US. To register or for more information send an email.
MSM Pre-Conference Event
July 21, 2012 from 9am – 6pm
The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is organizing the fifth MSM Pre-Conference Event to the International AIDS Conference. This year’s theme is: From Stigma to Strength: Strategies for MSM, Transgender People and Allies in a Shifting AIDS Landscape. Since its inception in 2006, the MSM Pre-Conference has grown to become the largest global gathering of activists, researchers, implementers and donors focused on the health and human rights of men who have sex with men.
Nurse Models of HIV Care & Treatment: Addressing Health Workforce Shortages for Long-Term Sustainability
Monday, July 23, 2012 from 7:00 am – 8:30 am
This workshop will provide an overview of the various data on nurse models of care and treatment for HIV/AIDS and co-morbid diseases. The areas of the world with the greatest burden of HIV often have a dual challenge in human resources necessary for healthcare delivery. With an ever growing physician-patient ratio, vastly different models of care have been required. Data on nurse care models that incorporate treatment initiation and management as well as case management have been shown to improve access, be highly sustainable and produce patient outcomes that are non-inferior to the physician care models. The challenges, however, continue to impede this evidence-based intervention. Please click here to register.
Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n Roll Art Exhibition
July 22-27, 2012
Opening Reception to benefit HIPS (Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive):
July 24, 2012 from 6 – 9pm
This art exhibition will feature both local and national artists’ exploration of the physical, psychological and socioeconomic impact of sex work and drug use on individuals, families and communities.
Beat Goes On lV
July 26, 2012 at 8pm
Latin Music superstar Juanes will headline the Beat Goes On lV, a concert to benefit Lifebeat, Music Fights HIV/AIDS. This special event will take place at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. Lifebeat’s mission is to deliver ‘music with a message’ and the concert will serve as a reminder to world leaders and policy makers that the AIDS epidemic remains a global threat to public health. 2012 marks Lifebeat’s 20th Anniversary; a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reaching America's youth with a message of HIV/AIDS and STD prevention.
Back to Table of Contents
HIV/AIDS Content at GLMA's 30th Annual Conference
GLMA’s 30th Annual Conference is just two months away and features a number of HIV/AIDS-specific workshop, oral and poster original research and plenary sessions
Message from GLMA’s Executive Director Hector Vargas
Responding to the call to advocate for policy and services for people with HIV and AIDS, GLMA’s genesis was during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. In the three decades since our founding in San Francisco in 1981, GLMA has broadened its scope and mission to ensure equality in healthcare for LGBT people as well as people living with HIV/AIDS.
In this special edition of the LGBT Health Digest, GLMA wishes to welcome International AIDS Conference participants to our new home, Washington, DC, and to highlight some of the many affiliated events taking place during the conference.
July 19, 2012 Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,
News: FDA Approves PrEP Drug Truvada
News: FDA Approves At-Home HIV Test
International AIDS Conference
Conference Affiliated Events
HIV/AIDS Content at GLMA’s 30th Annual Conference
FDA Approves PrEP Drug Truvada
On July 16, 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Truvada, the first drug approved to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals. Taken daily, Truvada is intended as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV-uninfected individuals who are at high risk of infection. According to the FDA press release, a PrEP indication means Truvada is approved for use as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that includes other prevention methods, such as safe sex practices, risk reduction counseling and regular HIV testing.
Back to Table of Contents
FDA Approves At-Home HIV Test
In follow up to a May 17th LGBT Health Digest item, on July 3, 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter HIV test. According to the LA Times, the new test, OraQuick, which works by detecting antibodies in a swab from the gums, will allow people to test themselves at home and receive preliminary results in less than 30 minutes. The FDA emphasized that any results from a self-administered test should not be considered final and that anyone receiving a positive result should follow up with a healthcare provider. OraQuick will be available in supermarkets and pharmacies in October.
Back to Table of Contents
International AIDS Conference
The International AIDS Conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance to assess where we are, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt and collectively chart a course forward.
The AIDS 2012 program will present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV. A variety of session types – from abstract-driven presentations to symposia, bridging and plenary sessions – will meet the needs of various participants. Other related activities, including the Global Village, satellite meetings, exhibitions and affiliated independent events, will contribute to an exceptional opportunity for professional development and networking.
Back to Table of Contents
Conference affiliated events include:
Return to Lisner
July 24, 2012 at 7pm
Whitman-Walker Health will be hosting Return to Lisner, the 29th anniversary of DC's first AIDS forum. In 1983, there was nothing but fear and uncertainty around AIDS. Today, there is hope and optimism for the future. Join us for an exciting and emotional forum on the future of the epidemic.
GLMA is proud to be a community co-sponsor of Return to Lisner.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt
As Washington, DC prepares to host the XIX International AIDS Conference, the AIDS Memorial Quilt will once again be unfolded in our Nation’s Capital. During the week of July 21, sections of domestic and international Quilt will fill parts of the National Mall and “blanket” the Capital Region with displays in more than 50 other public spaces and venues. The Quilt provides balm for the painful wounds of grief, calms waters made turbulent by controversy and enlists everyone who sees it to play a role in stopping the epidemic. With its unparalleled ability to educate and advocate effectively – not with facts and figures, but with emotion embedded in powerful personal expression – The Quilt will bring much needed visual strength, expand the audience, add levels of context, meaning and relevance, and help inspire a new generation of individuals to respond to HIV/AIDS with compassion and resolve. For more information, please click here.
Gay Men’s Health Summit
July 19-22, 2012
Since the first Gay Men's Health Summit in 1999, participants have gathered in what is now a biennial event drawing over 300 activists to: Replace the HIV-centric paradigm of health advocacy for gay men with holistic models that integrate (but do not default to) HIV; Rethink the crisis paradigm of HIV work and embrace contemporary understandings, meanings and implications of HIV for gay men of all colors and classes; Challenge deficit-based models for work with gay men and replace them with asset-based approaches; Strategically and politically confront structural forces challenging the well-being of gay and bi men; Embrace a "big tent" vision of community, respecting diverse ways of organizing sex and relationships among gay men: shame and guilt are the health hazards, rather than specific sex practices and sex cultures; Launch only efforts that are neither overtly or covertly sanitizing, sanctimonious or moralistic.
Making Sex a Crime and Spit a Deadly Weapon: The Criminal Treatment of HIV
July 20, 2012 from 10am – 5pm
This is a free event through the Positive Justice Project (PJP) to inform and mobilize against HIV criminalization in the US. PJP is a working consortium devoted to ending the abuse of the criminal law against HIV-positive people. PJP includes HIV advocates, researchers, health and social service providers, media representatives, policy analysts, law enforcement and people living with HIV. PJP engages in federal and state policy advocacy, legal resource creation and support and on educating and mobilizing communities and policy makers in the US. To register or for more information send an email.
MSM Pre-Conference Event
July 21, 2012 from 9am – 6pm
The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is organizing the fifth MSM Pre-Conference Event to the International AIDS Conference. This year’s theme is: From Stigma to Strength: Strategies for MSM, Transgender People and Allies in a Shifting AIDS Landscape. Since its inception in 2006, the MSM Pre-Conference has grown to become the largest global gathering of activists, researchers, implementers and donors focused on the health and human rights of men who have sex with men.
Nurse Models of HIV Care & Treatment: Addressing Health Workforce Shortages for Long-Term Sustainability
Monday, July 23, 2012 from 7:00 am – 8:30 am
This workshop will provide an overview of the various data on nurse models of care and treatment for HIV/AIDS and co-morbid diseases. The areas of the world with the greatest burden of HIV often have a dual challenge in human resources necessary for healthcare delivery. With an ever growing physician-patient ratio, vastly different models of care have been required. Data on nurse care models that incorporate treatment initiation and management as well as case management have been shown to improve access, be highly sustainable and produce patient outcomes that are non-inferior to the physician care models. The challenges, however, continue to impede this evidence-based intervention. Please click here to register.
Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n Roll Art Exhibition
July 22-27, 2012
Opening Reception to benefit HIPS (Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive):
July 24, 2012 from 6 – 9pm
This art exhibition will feature both local and national artists’ exploration of the physical, psychological and socioeconomic impact of sex work and drug use on individuals, families and communities.
Beat Goes On lV
July 26, 2012 at 8pm
Latin Music superstar Juanes will headline the Beat Goes On lV, a concert to benefit Lifebeat, Music Fights HIV/AIDS. This special event will take place at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. Lifebeat’s mission is to deliver ‘music with a message’ and the concert will serve as a reminder to world leaders and policy makers that the AIDS epidemic remains a global threat to public health. 2012 marks Lifebeat’s 20th Anniversary; a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reaching America's youth with a message of HIV/AIDS and STD prevention.
Back to Table of Contents
HIV/AIDS Content at GLMA's 30th Annual Conference
GLMA’s 30th Annual Conference is just two months away and features a number of HIV/AIDS-specific workshop, oral and poster original research and plenary sessions
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Stonewall Columbus Supports National Latino Aids Awareness Day
Stonewall Columbus is proud to support the ninth annual observance of the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). It is a day of hope for the future of a world without AIDS.
In service to our LGBT Latino community, Stonewall Columbus will have a spanish translator present during free AIDS testing on Monday, October 17th from 1-6pm at The Center on High at 1160 N. High St, Columbus, OH 43201. (AIDS testing done in cooperation with Columbus Aids Task Force/AIDS Resource Center.) For more information call 614-299-7764 or visit www.stonewallcolumbus.org
Latinos Unite! Let’s Stay Healthy! Get Tested for HIV
Latinos Unidos y Saludables! Hazte la prueba de HIV
__________________________________________________________________
Stonewall Columbus serves the Central Ohio LGBT community by providing a community center and offering programming and services that enhance the well-being and visibility of our diverse community through discovery, affirmation and celebration. For more information http://www.nlaad.org
In service to our LGBT Latino community, Stonewall Columbus will have a spanish translator present during free AIDS testing on Monday, October 17th from 1-6pm at The Center on High at 1160 N. High St, Columbus, OH 43201. (AIDS testing done in cooperation with Columbus Aids Task Force/AIDS Resource Center.) For more information call 614-299-7764 or visit www.stonewallcolumbus.org
Latinos Unite! Let’s Stay Healthy! Get Tested for HIV
Latinos Unidos y Saludables! Hazte la prueba de HIV
__________________________________________________________________
Stonewall Columbus serves the Central Ohio LGBT community by providing a community center and offering programming and services that enhance the well-being and visibility of our diverse community through discovery, affirmation and celebration. For more information http://www.nlaad.org
Friday, June 3, 2011
Commemorating 30 Years of HIV/AIDS
By Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This week marks 30 years since the first report of a mysterious and deadly new syndrome that would come to be known as AIDS was published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). At the time, no one could have predicted the enormous toll the disease would take—claiming the lives of more than 500,000 Americans and many millions worldwide. Today we remember those we have lost, and honor them by recommitting ourselves to the fight against this deadly yet preventable disease.
Over the last three decades, prevention efforts have helped reduce new infections and treatment advances have allowed people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. But as these improvements have taken place, our nation's collective sense of crisis has waned. Far too many Americans underestimate their risk of infection or believe HIV is no longer a serious health threat, but they must understand that HIV remains an incurable infection. We must increase our resolve to end this epidemic.
CDC released data today showing that the number of Americans living with HIV continued to increase by more than 71,000 people between 2006 and 2008, mainly due to treatments which allow those infected with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. Currently, more than 1.1 million people in the United States live with HIV, and as this number increases, so does the risk of HIV transmission.
Today, the most infections are among people under 30—a new generation that has never known a time without effective HIV treatments and who may not fully understand the significant health threat HIV poses. Groups that have historically borne a disproportionate burden of HIV continue to see more than their share of devastation from this disease:
· Gay men: Gay and bisexual men of all races remain the group most affected by this epidemic. Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for just 2 percent of the U.S. population but represent more than half of all new infections in the United States. White MSM continue to account for the largest number of new infections, but MSM of color are disproportionately impacted. And a CDC analysis released today found high levels of HIV infection even among those MSM who get tested regularly. Approximately 7 percent of MSM in the 21 cities surveyed tested positive for HIV in the study, even though they reported having a negative HIV test result during the past 12 months.
· African-Americans and Latinos: The rate of new HIV infections for black men is about 6 times as high as that of white men, and about 3 times that of Hispanic men. The HIV incidence rate for black women is nearly 15 times as high as that of white women, and nearly 4 times that of Hispanic women. Among Hispanics, the rate of new HIV infections among men is more than double that of white men, and the rate among women is nearly 4 times that of white women.
Reducing HIV rates in the United States is not only possible—it is imperative. A recent analysis of the epidemiological and economic impacts of HIV estimates that if infection continues at its current rate, it could cost more than $200 billion to treat those who become newly infected over the next decade.
Advances in HIV prevention hold promise for reducing new infections and avoiding this high burden on lives and medical costs. More people know their HIV status and protect others from infection. New prevention interventions have been identified, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for MSM. And new data confirm that early testing and treatment for HIV-infected heterosexuals in relationships in which one person is HIV-positive and the other is not could contribute to declines in HIV in the United States.
At CDC, we are entering the next decade of HIV/AIDS with an aggressive focus on increasing the impact of prevention. Guided by the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, we are prioritizing prevention activities based on their effectiveness, cost, coverage, feasibility and scalability—to have the greatest possible impact with every dollar. Further, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, CDC is implementing 12 demonstration projects in hard-hit areas across the country. The goal is to identify and implement a combination approach to enhance effective HIV prevention. And we are continuing to keep HIV on the radar of all Americans, through our national Act Against AIDS communication campaign. But government alone cannot end this epidemic. It's up to all of us to get the facts about HIV, get tested, and take control to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
On this 30th commemoration of AIDS, our resolve to end the epidemic cannot falter. It is possible to greatly reduce new HIV infections. Working together, we can break through complacency, save lives, and end HIV as a threat to the health and well-being of all Americans.
For more information on the 30 years of HIV, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/HIV30thCommemoration.html. For more information on HIV, please visit www.actagainstaids.org; to find an HIV testing site in your local area, visit www.HIVTest.org.
This week marks 30 years since the first report of a mysterious and deadly new syndrome that would come to be known as AIDS was published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). At the time, no one could have predicted the enormous toll the disease would take—claiming the lives of more than 500,000 Americans and many millions worldwide. Today we remember those we have lost, and honor them by recommitting ourselves to the fight against this deadly yet preventable disease.
Over the last three decades, prevention efforts have helped reduce new infections and treatment advances have allowed people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. But as these improvements have taken place, our nation's collective sense of crisis has waned. Far too many Americans underestimate their risk of infection or believe HIV is no longer a serious health threat, but they must understand that HIV remains an incurable infection. We must increase our resolve to end this epidemic.
CDC released data today showing that the number of Americans living with HIV continued to increase by more than 71,000 people between 2006 and 2008, mainly due to treatments which allow those infected with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. Currently, more than 1.1 million people in the United States live with HIV, and as this number increases, so does the risk of HIV transmission.
Today, the most infections are among people under 30—a new generation that has never known a time without effective HIV treatments and who may not fully understand the significant health threat HIV poses. Groups that have historically borne a disproportionate burden of HIV continue to see more than their share of devastation from this disease:
· Gay men: Gay and bisexual men of all races remain the group most affected by this epidemic. Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for just 2 percent of the U.S. population but represent more than half of all new infections in the United States. White MSM continue to account for the largest number of new infections, but MSM of color are disproportionately impacted. And a CDC analysis released today found high levels of HIV infection even among those MSM who get tested regularly. Approximately 7 percent of MSM in the 21 cities surveyed tested positive for HIV in the study, even though they reported having a negative HIV test result during the past 12 months.
· African-Americans and Latinos: The rate of new HIV infections for black men is about 6 times as high as that of white men, and about 3 times that of Hispanic men. The HIV incidence rate for black women is nearly 15 times as high as that of white women, and nearly 4 times that of Hispanic women. Among Hispanics, the rate of new HIV infections among men is more than double that of white men, and the rate among women is nearly 4 times that of white women.
Reducing HIV rates in the United States is not only possible—it is imperative. A recent analysis of the epidemiological and economic impacts of HIV estimates that if infection continues at its current rate, it could cost more than $200 billion to treat those who become newly infected over the next decade.
Advances in HIV prevention hold promise for reducing new infections and avoiding this high burden on lives and medical costs. More people know their HIV status and protect others from infection. New prevention interventions have been identified, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for MSM. And new data confirm that early testing and treatment for HIV-infected heterosexuals in relationships in which one person is HIV-positive and the other is not could contribute to declines in HIV in the United States.
At CDC, we are entering the next decade of HIV/AIDS with an aggressive focus on increasing the impact of prevention. Guided by the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, we are prioritizing prevention activities based on their effectiveness, cost, coverage, feasibility and scalability—to have the greatest possible impact with every dollar. Further, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, CDC is implementing 12 demonstration projects in hard-hit areas across the country. The goal is to identify and implement a combination approach to enhance effective HIV prevention. And we are continuing to keep HIV on the radar of all Americans, through our national Act Against AIDS communication campaign. But government alone cannot end this epidemic. It's up to all of us to get the facts about HIV, get tested, and take control to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
On this 30th commemoration of AIDS, our resolve to end the epidemic cannot falter. It is possible to greatly reduce new HIV infections. Working together, we can break through complacency, save lives, and end HIV as a threat to the health and well-being of all Americans.
For more information on the 30 years of HIV, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/HIV30thCommemoration.html. For more information on HIV, please visit www.actagainstaids.org; to find an HIV testing site in your local area, visit www.HIVTest.org.
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