“Author Archive”
Stories written by AIDS.gov
By AIDS.gov
By AIDS.gov Cross-posted from NIAID, NIHThe implementation of scientifically proven HIV prevention strategies is helping to reduce the number of new infections — the annual HIV infection rate globally fell by 22 percent from 2001 to 2011 — but a great deal more must be done. Significant scale-up of proven HIV prevention strategies coupled with the discovery of new HIV treatment and prevention interventions are needed to achieve an end to the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. A safe, effective and durable HIV vaccine is an essential cornerstone to the long-term strategy to achieve this goal. Developing a safe and effective HIV vaccine has been a long and difficult process largely because HIV has proven to be an especially tough target. Recent developments with the HVTN 505 clinical trial and analyses from the HVTN 503 “Phambili” vaccine study have been disappointing, but they also provided clear answers about investigational vaccine strategies that, ultimately, were not effective.
May 17th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesDr. Howard Koh As we celebrate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month and the many accomplishments of AAPIs, we also want to recognize that these communities still face many barriers to health and health care, including HIV/AIDS. To recognize these challenges, May 19th has been designated as the National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
May 17th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Miguel Gomez, Director, AIDS.gov, and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesMay 18th is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), led by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health. We spoke to Dr. Carl Dieffenbach at NIH, who had this to say about HIV Vaccine Awareness Day: “[On Vaccine Awareness Day] we can take a moment to acknowledge the study participants who have given their time, their energy, .
May 17th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesDr. Ronald Valdiserri This week, we mark the second annual observance of Hepatitis Testing Day. Establishment of this national health awareness day on May 19 was called for in the Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis as part of efforts to decrease health disparities by raising greater public and health care provider awareness, particularly among those populations most affected by hepatitis B and C infections. To achieve the goals of the Action Plan, we must address the fact that millions of Americans have chronic hepatitis, but most of them do not know they are infected.
May 17th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Stephanie Goss, B.A., Communications Manager, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness CenterThe Banyan Tree Project launched Taking Root: Our Stories, Our Community last year for May 19, the National Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Taking Root puts the power to end HIV stigma back in the hands of the community through a community-driven, community-owned digital storytelling initiative. Since then, we have held four workshops in California, Hawai’i, and Guam, where A&PIs living with or affected by HIV produced their own true, authentic, and unfiltered stories about their lived experiences with HIV and stigma. By the end of 2013, we will have completed three more workshops in San Francisco, San Diego and Cincinnati, OH. Asians & Pacific Islanders comprise over 50 different ethnic groups speaking over 100 different languages
May 17th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Nelson L. Michael, M.D., Ph.D., Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army, Director, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of ResearchCol.
May 17th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesDr. Howard K. Koh This month marks the second anniversary of Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: Action Plan for the Prevention, Care & Treatment of Viral Hepatitis – and over the past two years, with your support, we have been able to achieve: Improved federal coordination and collaboration – The Action Plan has fostered enhanced engagement and unprecedented collaboration across federal government.
May 16th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Amy Palilonis, M.S.W., Community Planning & Development Specialist, Office of HIV/AIDS Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentAmy Palilonis Projects underway in seven communities around the nation are providing permanent and transitional housing and other support services to more than 200 households with families and individuals living with HIV/AIDS and informing the development of new cross-program approaches in HIV care. Seeking to better integrate and coordinate non-housing supportive services for people living with HIV (PLWH) with housing assistance, the projects advance the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). In September 2011, HUD awarded nearly $9 million in Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) competitive grant funding to projects in seven states
May 15th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Bethsy Morales-Reid, Director, National Hispanic Hepatitis Awareness DayBethsy Morales-Reid During May’s observance of Hepatitis Awareness Month, we also mark National Hispanic Hepatitis Awareness Day (NHHAD). Both of these events highlight the importance of strengthening efforts to address hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Latinos. NHHAD is a national community mobilization and social marketing campaign that unites the Hispanic/Latino community in efforts to raise awareness about viral hepatitis; promote hepatitis C testing, prevention and education; and bring attention to other related critical health issues such as HIV co-infection and alcohol use. Hepatitis C in the U.S.: Key Facts Viral hepatitis is a silent epidemic in the United States and more than 3 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis C, according to the CDC. Over time, chronic hepatitis C can lead to serious liver problems including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
May 14th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Jennie Anderson, AIDS.gov Communications AdvisorOver the past few years, more and more people have shifted from using a standalone camera to their mobile phones to take photos. Smartphones make it convenient and easy for people to take photos whenever they want, and to share them instantly with whomever they want. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project (Pew), nearly half (46%) of American adults are smartphone users , and nearly half (46%) of adult internet users post original photos or videos online [PDF 654KB]. From sharing personal messages about the HIV epidemic to photos from HIV events, at AIDS.gov we have seen the power of photosharing to address HIV-related issues such as stigma. CDC NPIN recently held a webinar that covered image sharing.
May 14th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Eric Goosby, Ambassador, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Cross-posted from DipNote U.S. Department of State Official BlogOn Mother’s Day, we celebrate the many exceptional women in our lives and around the globe. Today, and every day, we are grateful for — and indebted to — the billions of mothers and other women who serve as the glue that keeps our families and communities together. Unfortunately, in the fight against AIDS, women continue to bear a disproportionate burden
May 13th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By AIDS.govOn Thursday, May 23, the HHS Office of HIV/AIDS & Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP) working with the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance (HIV PJA) will convene a webinar to discuss how HIV care navigation can improve health equity and decrease disparities by addressing barriers to care. The title of the webinar is Navigating HIV Care: Using Navigators, Linkage Specialists and Community Health Care Workers to Improve Health Outcomes. The webinar will take place from 2:00–3:30 p.m. (EDT).
May 10th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Todd Park, Chief Technology Officer, HHS Cross-posted from The White House BlogEditor’s note: Yesterday, the White House issued an Executive Order and an accompanying Open Data Policy, as well as a series of complementary actions. According to the press statement, “The Executive Order requires that, going forward, data generated by the government be made available in open, machine-readable formats, while appropriately safeguarding privacy, confidentiality, and security.” We encourage you to read the White House blog post below and read more information on open data highlights across government. Today, as he heads to Austin, Texas, for a Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour, President Obama signed an Executive Order directing historic steps to make government-held data more accessible to the public and to entrepreneurs and others as fuel for innovation and economic growth. The Executive Order declares that information is a valuable resource and strategic asset for the Nation. We couldn’t agree more. Under the terms of the Executive Order and a new Open Data Policy released today by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget, all newly generated government data will be required to be made available in open, machine-readable formats, greatly enhancing their accessibility and usefulness, while ensuring privacy and security.
May 10th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
By AIDS.gov
By Corinna Dan, R.N., M.P.H., Viral Hepatitis Policy Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesCorinna Dan This Sunday we will observe Mother’s Day and celebrate mothers across the nation. May is also Hepatitis Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and to highlight opportunities to address this ‘silent epidemic’, such as redoubling our efforts to provide quality health care to mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection and help eliminate perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in the United States. Hepatitis B in the U.S. Nationally, new hepatitis B infections have been reduced by 82% since 1991 because of the availability of safe and effective vaccines, as well as improved prevention in healthcare settings
May 9th, 2013 | Posted in HIV/AIDS,Infectious Disease | Read More »
