Rising Rainbows of Hope

In this conversation from AIDS 2012, Dr. Ron Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases and Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, speaks with Mr. Terrance Moore, Director of Policy and Health Equity at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD ). They discussed the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS among African American gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and efforts underway at the national and state levels to address this disparity. They touch on efforts to increase HIV testing among this population, including CDC’s new Testing Makes Us Stronger campaign which Mr. Moore advised on, the importance of improving linkage to and retention in care among this population, and the domestic and global struggles to address and reduce stigma which undercuts these efforts.

Watch their brief conversation below. Then, in the Comments section below, share your ideas for improving HIV prevention, care and treatment for Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

You can also read more on this important topic in our post AIDS 2012: HIV in Gay and Bisexual Men.

A Transformative Time for HIV Prevention and Care

By Grant Colfax, MD, Director, Office of National AIDS Policy (Cross-posted from White House Office of National AIDS Policy Blog)

It’s a great honor to join an Administration that’s done so much to address the HIV epidemic. I especially want to acknowledge ONAP’s prior director, Jeff Crowley, for his stellar leadership over the past three years.
This is a transformative time for HIV prevention and care: recent research breakthroughs in testing and treatment mean that a future AIDS-free generation is a real possibility. While there is much to be done, it is remarkable how far we’ve come.
I’m especially grateful that my first day on the job included a White House commemoration of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This meeting of community members, researchers, and Federal representatives focused on the intersection of HIV/AIDS, violence against women, and gender-related disparities. We reviewed data that show women account for nearly a quarter of new HIV cases in the United States, and that the majority of these cases are among women of color. Especially concerning is that HIV infection rates among black women are over thirty times higher than in other women.

The meeting included the announcement of the formation of two important working groups to make recommendations for moving forward on this important issue. The inter-agency Federal working group will be co-chaired by me and Lynn Rosenthal, the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, and will comprise of members of multiple Federal agencies to ensure an interdisciplinary and coordinated approach. A second group comprised of a diversity of members from the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) will also meet soon. I’d like to thank personally the meeting’s organizers, speakers and participants for an inspirational event.
The working groups’ recommendations will include informing the multiple current Federal efforts addressing the HIV care and treatment needs of women and girls. Some examples are the CDC’s “Take Charge. Take the Test” initiative to increase HIV testing among women; the NIH-supported WIHS study, the longest ongoing women’s cohort study ever in the United States; and the expansion of HIV testing and linkage to care efforts at Family Planning Clinics. Perhaps most exciting, in 2011 alone, the Affordable Care Act expanded coverage of preventive services to 54 million people, including more than 20 million women.

On a more personal note, as a healthcare provider and someone who has guided implementation of HIV prevention efforts at the local level, I will ensure that the voices of persons living with HIV and those at high risk of infection, including women, are at the front and center of ONAP’s work, every day. It is only through listening to these voices that we will be able to move forward effectively in confronting the epidemic.

Within this context, I look forward to leading ONAP and guiding implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, with the goal of realizing the President’s vision that “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.” We all share this vision. Working together, we will make it a reality.

Living in Tides of Innovations and Synergy

HIV/AIDS in the Nation’s Capital

By AIDS.gov

On Tuesday, Whitman Walker Health Center of Washington, DC, hosted “Return to Lisner: A Forum on HIV/AIDS” to discuss the current state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The event marked the 29th anniversary of DC’s first HIV/AIDS forum at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium.
Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White, an Indiana teenager who died from AIDS in 1990 and for whom the Ryan White Care Act is named, delivered an impassioned keynote address. Mrs. White-Ginder reflected on the fear and uncertainty that characterized the early days of the epidemic and talked about her son’s ordeal and the stigma and discrimination he encountered.
A panel of medical, research, public policy, and education experts also discussed the state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and expressed hope and optimism about finally reaching “the beginning of the end” of the HIV epidemic. Among the challenges the speakers highlighted were the need to increase testing, overcome barriers to engaging and maintaining individuals living with HIV in care, provide more comprehensive sex education to the American public, and train more culturally competent clinicians. Despite these challenges, panelists remained optimistic that advances such as treatment-as-prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis have put the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic within reach.

DC Partnership for HIV/AIDS ProgressOn Wednesday, in the AIDS 2012 Global Village, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also hosted a panel to give an update on the current state of the epidemic in Washington, DC. Specifically, speakers shared updates on the DC Partnership for HIV/AIDS Progress, a collaboration between NIH’s National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the NIH Clinical Center, and the DC Department of Health (DC-DOH).
Washington is one of the 12 cities in the United States with the highest HIV rates (2.7%). Before 2006, DC had very little community-based data available, which made it difficult to address the changing nature of the epidemic. NIH’s Carl Dieffenbach explained that, in 2006, DC only had eight HIV-related research grants, but now the city has 22.
The goals of the partnership include: 1) Performing research that develops effective measures to control HIV in DC; 2) Establishing a city-wide data system to measure the effectiveness of the programs; 3) Identifying at-risk populations; 4) Piloting the voluntary test-and-treat concept; 5) Augmenting HIV-related subspecialty care in DC; and 6) Providing access to promising research strategies.
The DC partnership has established a city-wide HIV database that links the electronic medical records of the 12 largest care providers, who cover 80% of the HIV-positive population. The partnership is coordinating that data system with the DC-DOH database.

Development Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR)
The partnership also established the Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR), which has $3.75M in funding over five years, 54 investigators, 16 awards (R-series), 16 new investigators, four scientific workgroups, five pilot research awards ($580K), and five administrative supplements ($2.5M). The D-CFAR is a collaboration between American University, Children’s National Medical Center, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, and Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN)
Dr. Dieffenbach talked about the various HPTN studies that helped to identify the city’s at-risk populations and pilot test-and-treat protocols. HPTN 061 was designed to assess whether community-level interventions intended to prevent HIV infection would be used by the study population (i.e., black men who have sex with men). A separate study, HPTN 064, was designed to estimate HIV incidence among African American women from areas with high rates of HIV and poverty. The preliminary results of HPTN 064 show higher HIV incidence in the study cities than among black women overall in the United States. Included in these studies are Community Advisory Boards that work with the researchers to include the voices of the DC community and people living with HIV in the research process.

DC HIV Behavioral Surveillance
Dr. Manya Magnus presented on the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS). The NHBS multisite study takes cross-sectional “snap shots” in time every year. The study assesses the prevalence of, and trends in, sexual-risk behaviors and HIV-testing behaviors. It examines the impact of prevention, gaps in prevention services, and missed opportunities
for community-researcher collaboration. Dr. Magnus mentioned that, in the absence of the prevention data, they could not make interventions that are culturally relevant.
Nearly 30 years have passed between the first Lisner forum and AIDS 2012. The DC epidemic has changed and the approach to the epidemic has changed. With continued partnerships between the Federal government, researchers, and the community, Washington, DC will continue moving forward to create an AIDS-free generation.

Streams of Living Affected

White House Video Series for AIDS 2012

By AIDS.gov

This week, while the 2012 International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012 ) is being held in Washington, D.C., the White House released a series of related videos. First was a three-minute video history of HIV and the United States’ response that includes President Obama’s welcome to the more than 23,000 conference attendees. AIDS 2012 has also provided an opportunity for Administration officials to reflect on the effect that HIV/AIDS has had in their own lives, and how far we’ve come in the fight against the disease. Among those sharing their thoughts are:

• Grant Colfax, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy
• Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President
• Brad Kiley, Director of the Office of Management and Administration
• Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council
• Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy for the National Security Staff
• Tina Tchen, Chief of Staff to the First Lady

Click on the names above to view their videos and watch the Office of National AIDS Policy Blog for more videos this week.

Woman Alleges Boyfriend Tried to Give Her HIV On Purpose

A woman has her ex-boyfriend arrested, she says, because he tried to give her HIV on purpose.

Arkansas is one of the first states to make it a crime to knowingly attempt to transmit HIV.

It will be up to a jury to decide if a man should spend up to 30 years in jail for his alleged actions.

"He spent time with me and my kids, it was all going great," said Rebecca Williams.

Earlier this year, Rebecca Williams began what she thought was a great relationship with a fellow tenant at this Little Rock apartment complex. Things were going so well, the two even got engaged.

Williams never thought her partner had HIV because she says he never told her.

"He kept telling me he was totally clean and so I went and got my yearly done and then he confessed it all." said Williams.

After months of an intimate relationship Williams learned Eric Hopkins had been lying to her. Now, she's had him arrested and charged for knowingly trying to infect her with HIV.

In fact, Williams says he finally admitted to her he wanted an HIV-positive wife, so he wouldn't die alone.

"He would preach the word of God, telling me he blessed me with HIV, that it wasn't a curse, it was a blessing," Williams said.

Williams immediately filed a police report. Now, she is waiting to take the case to trial in September.

"It is a very serious crime," said Prosecutor Larry Jegley.  Jegley says he can't comment on this particular case but says cases like this are very rare.

Since 2007, only 27 people in the state have been arrested for the crime and 10 convicted.

Jegley says they simply have to prove the person who knew there infected, tried to transmit the disease without informing their partner.

Jegley says it doesn't even matter if the partner actually contracted HIV.

"It's like an assault, shooting at someone and you didn't hit and kill them, well you could have, same thing," Jegley said.

Williams is so grateful she's testing negative. She says Hopkins is mentally sick and needs help. still, she's seeking justice. To others, she says simply: beware of who you sleep with.

"Don't trust anybody, do your research," said Williams.

This case is set for a hearing next month. Hopkins is still in jail and Williams has an order saying he can't contact her.

Prosecutor Larry Jegley says he's handled about ten of these cases, all but one ended in conviction here.

With Love from Sir Elton John

Love Is the Cure tells the moving story of Elton’s friendship with Ryan White and his family, and how Ryan’s courageous struggle with hemophilia and HIV/AIDS and his humane response to the stigma associated with his illness inspired Elton to change his life and create the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He reflects on 20 years of the Foundation's work through frontline stories from EJAF grantees around the world, and offers his insights on how compassion can be a transformative force in the fight against AIDS.

Sales of Love Is the Cure directly support the work of the Foundation, and we hope you will support EJAF and help to spread Elton’s important message by reading the book and telling your friends and family about it. You can order a copy of the book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or you can find a copy at your local book store. The Living Affected Corporation will be seeking to submit a proposal to EJAF during its funding period in 2013.

 

 

 

 

International AIDS Conference Takes Flight

The Living Affected Corporation joins the over 4000 who have signed on as a supporter of this declaration to end the AIDS Epidemic. We belive that "treatment as prevention" is paramount to having an endgame strategy. We abhor the fact that substandard funding including our own states lack of a prevention line item in our budget is no longer an acceptable situation. Our organization stands committed to continue our unabashed mission to be " the statewide organization that is informed and connected to change the social construct of the community we serve by improving basic human rights." We implore our policy makers and leadership to move toward the vision of an "AIDS free generation" through dynamic and vigorous prevention implementations. We demand action now! 

A DECLARATION TO END THE AIDS EPIDEMIC

We stand at a unique time in the history of the AIDS epidemic.
Three decades of tenacious community advocacy, research, and service provision have brought the world to the brink of a scenario unthinkable a few short years ago: the possibility of beginning to end the AIDS epidemic in our lifetimes. The losses have been incalculable; the gains extraordinary.  But now, through new scientific advances, and societal, political and human rights gains, we have discovered that it is possible to assemble and deliver a package of proven strategies, which, if taken to scale, can turn the tide on AIDS.
Sign the Declaration
We still need a cure and a vaccine. But we must scale up our resources and efforts using the tools we have today to dramatically curb new infections and improve the health of tens of millions of people with HIV/AIDS. Millions of lives will be saved.
Turning the tide against the HIV/AIDS epidemic will take concerted leadership at all levels of government, health systems, academic and non-governmental organizations. We must strive for multi-disciplinary approaches that respect and uphold the human rights and dignity of all people affected by the epidemic. The goal of beginning to end the AIDS epidemic is ambitious, but achievable. It is within our grasp.

To turn this tide together we must: 

1. Increase targeted new investments. We can save lives, avert infections and reduce the global price-tag of the epidemic with an immediate, strategic increase in investments now. Greater progress will require commensurate funding commitments from global and local donors, including from national governments worldwide.
2. Ensure evidence-based HIV prevention, treatment and care in accord with the human rights of those at greatest risk and in greatest need. This includes men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, people who use drugs, vulnerable women, young people, pregnant women living with HIV, and sex workers, as well as other affected populations. No one can be excluded if we are to reach our goal.
3. End stigma, discrimination, legal sanctions and human rights abuses against people living with HIV and those at risk. Stigma and discrimination hamper all our efforts and prevent delivery of essential services.
4. Markedly increase HIV testing, counseling and linkages to prevention, care and support services. Every person has a right to know her/his HIV status and get the treatment, care and support they need.

5. Provide treatment for all pregnant and nursing women living with HIV and end peri-natal transmission:  We can support women to stay alive and healthy and to end pediatric HIV infections
6. Expand access to antiretroviral treatment to all in need. We cannot end AIDS until the promise of universal access is realized.
7. Identify, diagnose and treat TB. Implement TB prevention programmes through integrated HIV and TB services. No more living with HIV but dying of TB.
8. Accelerate research on new HIV prevention and treatment tools, including novel approaches such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and microbicides, and on optimal delivery of what we know works, from condoms to treatment as prevention. Expand research for a vaccine and a cure. Research is essential to leading us out of the epidemic.
9. Mobilization and meaningful involvement of affected communities must be at the core of collective responses.  The leadership of those directly affected is paramount to an effective HIV/AIDS response.

The challenges ahead are great, but the costs of failure will be greater.  We call upon all concerned citizens of the global community, in the spirit of solidarity and joint action, and with the fullest engagement of the community of persons living with HIV, to seek renewed urgency to expand the global AIDS fight. We must act on what we know. We must start the end of AIDS—Together.

Living Affected Connects to International AIDS Conference 2012

The Living Affected Corporation is proud to be serving as a source for the latest information being deployed from the International AIDS Conference being held in Washington D.C. July 22-27. It is our goal to update all of our platform with the latest breaking news meanwhile serving a micro hub with some presentation being streamed directly into our offices. LA Corp has added the IAC widget to this site that will update with news and links to coverage that may not be actually posted to this site. As an organization we pride ourselves as an entity that has always embraced social media and all forms of the "new media" evolving on a daily basis. It has been a long standing decision from our agency that our messaging must trend among all platforms including, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our own in-house created outlets. Our research shows that in this "blink" society its imperative that our prevention messages must be bold and artistic as we compete for the minds and hearts of those of the greatest risk factors and disproportionately affected by the infection. LA Corp will continue to lead the state in utilizing new media as a vital tool in our prevention arsenal. For more information hit us up at info@lacorponline.org or call us at 501.379.8203  Come follow us for the latest from IAC 2012!!


A Look Ahead: The 2012 International AIDS Conference

This webcast from the Foundation and the Black AIDS Institute examines the upcoming International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. Experts and leading voices in the field discuss their expectations of the Conference in the areas of treatment, prevention, advocacy and the epidemic in the U.S.
Moderated by George Curry, Editor-in-Chief, NNPA News Service, participants include:

• Dázon Dixon Diallo, Founder and President, SisterLove, Inc. (Biography)
• Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute Allergies and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (Biography)
• Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control (Biography)
• Dr. Diane V. Havlir, U.S. Co-Chair, AIDS 2012, Chief, HIV/AIDS Division and Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital (Biography)
• David Holtgrave, Ph.D., Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University (Biography)
• Jennifer Kates, Vice President and Director, Global Health & HIV Policy, Kaiser Family Foundation (Biography)
• U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, U.S. Congress (D-Calif.) (Biography)
• Phill Wilson, Founder and President, Black AIDS Institute (Biography)

Also View: A Look Back: The 2012 International AIDS Conference

Horizons of Living and Affected Ahead

LA Corp Speaks

Truvada Approved for HIV-Negative People at High Risk of Infection

 

The Living Affected Corporation had mixed emotions concerning the issue of the FDA approving Truvada as an approved HIV drug as a "pre-exposure prophylaxis" or PrEP -- that is, for protecting uninfected people against HIV. However, ultimately it our belief the virus must be fought on many different levels and fronts that will require scaling up a innovative approaches that may be considered controversial. It is our contention that the FDA expressly message that PrEP with Truvada must include safer-sex practices, counseling, and HIV testing. It is our position that this approach can prevent many new infections and could dramatically impact HIV transmission worldwide as part of the tools we have available to stop the epidemic. Furthermore it our position that the FDA approval which comes with a risk-reduction program should be fully engaged to not to foster a mindset that risky behavior is now acceptable or usage of the drug prevents further infections.

 

We implore that doctors prescribing Truvada PrEP must ensure that patients test negative for HIV before taking the drug and that new tests are advised every three months at least complete with any confirmatory testing required.

In addition, people must be monitored for signs of kidney or bone problems -- which are among the long-term side effects sometimes seen with Truvada. Full knowledge of these side effects and other perhaps long lasting physical changes can not be discounted in the use of this drug.

According to the FDA, it says it will stay in close touch with those prescribing and taking Truvada PrEP to fine-tune the risk-reduction program. As an organization we also believe that this must be paramount to assess possible measurable outcomes and other impacts.

"Education is the key and targeted messaging will be a priority," said Board member, Devorain Anderson.  He concluded, "We are committed to working with our public health colleagues to learn how best to use Truvada for PrEP so we can fully achieve the public health benefit it represents."

With Truvada costing about $1,100 a month, LA Corp would hope that some further clarity will be forthcoming as to whether Truvada PrEP will be covered by insurance. Due to its pricing tier, we are of the opinion that economics could play a significant role in who and who will not be able to access the drug. For more information on both testing and counseling opportunities reach out to info@lacorponline.org or call 501.379.8203

Jackson Awarded

SREB-AGEP Doctoral Scholars Program

Damond Jackson is the first recipient of the SREB doctoral scholar’s award from the University of Central Arkansas. He is a PhD student in an Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies program at the university, the first and only one of its kind in the state, and one of few in this region of the country. Damond’s research focus is on Arkansas government agency effectiveness in HIV prevention relative to black MSM’s. He will offer the benefits of his academic acumen by serving as research and development consultant for LA Corps. the National Science Foundation (NSF) provides support services from the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program to minority graduate students in the NSF Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program.

The grant supports an initiative between the AGEP program and the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program (a partnership that includes SREB states, other regional educational organizations, and federal and foundation programs that stress strengthening minority graduate education). The grant from the National Science Foundation achieves two broad goals for AGEP scholars: 1) increases the likelihood of completing a Ph.D. in science, technology, engineering or mathematics; and 2) encourages and prepares scholars for a career as a successful college faculty member.
By joining forces with SREB, AGEP alliances encourage their minority graduate students nationwide to earn doctoral degrees and become college and university faculty members.

Afterhours Networking Launches

The Board of Directors of The Living Affected Corporation has announced the launch of a "Afterhours Networking" event to begin August 1 from 6 to 9 pm at the organizations offices, 401 Maple Street, Suite A (First Presbyterian Church of North Little Rock). The event is designed to invite allies, supporters and sponsors to further understand LA Corp's vision and mission of "transforming communites through holistic health by providing education and advocacy." Chief Operating Officier, C. Mabin stated, " It very important that we share our organizational story which is ripe with lessons learned."  He continued, " Our goal is to make a connection with our allies and supporters that will allow us to bring others into wanting to help us effectively impact our clients with holistic outcomes."  Currently the organization has been in a re-tooling phase which included creating this event to scale up its strategic planning initiatives such as future board development, assessing funding streams, donor acquistion and retension plus further defining its position as a statewide organization that is informed and connected to changing the social construct of the community served by providing basic human rights. As a Arkansas Department of Health sub-grantee, The Living Affected Corporation has been the premiere organization addressing HIV /AIDS in the Black MSM community through its impending D-Up intervention diffuison, individual free HIV testing, serving as a community service outlet for those in the judical system and offering technical assistance throughout the city. The event is free. For more information contact: 501.379.8203 or 877.902.7HIV

Loving and Living 2012

Preparing for PrEP, Part 1: What Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Could Mean for Black Gay and Bi Men

The first of a two-part series about PrEP's relevance to African American men who have sex with men. The series was featured on The Black AIDS.org website which is the media piece of The Black AIDS Institute. The timely item appears as the FDA touts Truvada as a "prevention tool'" for those with high risk factors. The Living Affected Corporation supports treatment as and welcomes new comprehensive approaches that will assist in the battle to garner zero infections. However, it our premise that unless the underlying social determinants know by us as "H.E.F.T.E. ( housing, education, food, treatment and employment) are not apart of the care continuum then pre-exposure prophylaxis methods will not be as significant or effective among targeted populations.

In what has been described as a "major breakthrough," the daily use of an antiretroviral drug by HIV-negative gay and bisexual men has been proved to dramatically reduce new HIV infections.
The results of the clinical trials involving Truvada lend hope to the new prevention technology known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (pdf), or PrEP. The initial study results were announced in November 2010. Updated data were presented during February at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections and at a daylong meeting organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both meetings took place in Boston.
The number one question on everyone's mind at the conferences: How do you move PrEP from the pages of scientific journals to a viable, easily accessible option?
"And how do you implement it for the number one risk group for HIV/AIDS: African American men who have sex with men?" asks Detroit-based Hank Milbourne, director of prevention services at AIDS Partnership Michigan.

The study--read an abstract here--found that men taking Gilead Sciences' Truvada were 43.8 percent less likely to become infected than those taking a placebo. The data revealed even higher levels of protection from HIV infection, up to 73 percent, among participants who adhered most closely to the daily drug regimen.
PrEP opens a new line of attack in HIV prevention, especially among those who may not be wearing condoms "because they sell sex, are in danger of prison rape, are under pressure from partners or lose their inhibitions when drunk or high," reports The New York Times.

Jim Pickett, director of advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, attended the CDC's Boston meeting and agrees. "Condoms are fantastic and extremely effective. But we need choices for people who can't or won't use them for whatever reason. If you are not using condoms, you deserve a choice that is better than nothing."
"The study results show that PrEP can be a very important prevention tool," says Jirair Ratevosian, M.P.H., deputy director of policy at the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), who also attended the Boston conferences. "But we also understand that PrEP is not for everyone," he adds.
The study included nearly 2,500 participants, mostly men who engage in high-risk sex with other men, and was conducted in six countries: Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, South Africa, Thailand and the United States.
And there lies the "challenge," say some Black HIV-prevention specialists who are expert in MSM (men who have sex with men). "Only about 10 percent of the participants were residents of the United States," notes Milbourne. "A smaller percentage was African American. I have questions if there were cultural variances in treatment adherence, accessibility and taking medications."
AIDS Partnership Michigan serves up to 10,000 clients per year who are seeking HIV-prevention services in the Detroit area, which Milbourne describes as the "epicenter" of the epidemic in Michigan. "Black MSM are the predominant group affected by HIV here, and . . . implementing PrEP to the community would be a challenge," he says. "It's more than taking a pill. It's a matter of consistent monitoring of a person's HIV status."And most of our clients don't have that access to medical care," Milbourne adds.

A recent CDC study of more than 8,100 MSM found that almost one in three Black men who have sex with men is HIV positive, compared with only 16 percent of White gay and bisexual men. Black poz MSM were least likely to be aware of their status--59 percent unaware versus 26 percent for White MSM. The numbers for younger Black MSM are even more startling, with 71 percent unaware of their infection.

Ratevosian of amFAR suggests that Black gay and bisexual men could benefit from PrEP: "We know that the Black and Latino population's access to health care and HIV/AIDS preventive services is pathetic. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (pdf) prioritizes Black MSM because they are most vulnerable. At the same time, extremely few prevention approaches are working for these populations, so PrEP gives us reason to be hopeful."

But first, "more demonstration projects are needed" to test and measure the effectiveness of the interventions, Ratevosian says. "We have to focus on vulnerable groups: MSM, young gay Black and Latino communities, women of color."

"PrEP is an intervention that has a number of moving parts that all need to be working for it to be safe and effective," says Chicago's Pickett. "We need seat belts and air bags on our cars to protect us from harm when we are driving. Take any of them away and you are more likely to get hurt. Adding PrEP to our prevention toolbox helps to ensure that fewer people get hurt. "

Milbourne estimates that about "one in every five Black MSM in Michigan" is HIV positive. He views PrEP as part of a "comprehensive" HIV-prevention package for Black MSM. "It's certainly not a first line of defense or offense in prevention," he says. "It's too expensive. And most African American MSM do not have insurance or the type of insurance that would pay for it. "
IndeedTruvada can cost $36 a day or up to $14,000 a year, reports NPR.
"Questions around cost and access are concerns to everyone," Pickett says. "We don't just want this to be a 'boutique' intervention available only to the privileged few."

Rod McCullom, a writer and television news producer, blogs on Black gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender news and pop culture rod20.com. (source)  For more information, contact The Living Affected Corporation: 501.379.8203 or 1.877.902.7HIV

Living Lenses and Periscopes

Living Affected Refreshes Board of Directors

As a part of the organizations on going restructuring and strategic planning outlook, The Living Affected Corporation, Inc. pursued a statewide search for new board members to fulfill oversight of organizational policies, fundraising goals and initiatives plus serving as ambassadors for the group. The new members for 2012 are Ms. Kendra Johnson, Chair ( seated left), Ms. Tonya Estelle ( seated right), Ms. Janee Richardson, (upper left)  Mr. Devarian Anderson (top right) and Ms. Chantelle Davis (not pictured). The board will meet monthly as they begin to explore board development modules that will assist the group with further understanding their roles and impact on the organization as a whole. Utilizing a recently redeployed mission and vision statement, the directors will prepare to embrace the new Vision Statement which reads: " we are the statewide organization that is informed and connected to change the social construct of the community we serve by improving basic human rights."  Through strategic development exercises facilitated by Damon Jackson of The Jackson Group, The Living Affected organization also believes that its mission statement of "transforming communities through holistic health by providing, education and advocacy," will be vital in its efforts. ultimately culminating in creating a Wellness Institute that will effectively change lives in our lives and the community.

With those core elements developed, LA Corp also wanted to refresh its brand through the launch of a new logo identity which pronounces the group's "H.E.F.T.E." ( Housing, Education, Food, Treatment, Employment) concept that supports their idea that these social determinants must be addressed as part of the care continuum paradox. As a sub-grantee of the Arkansas Department of Health, The Living Affected Corporation has been striving to offer as many prevention outlets possible including participating in outreach opportunities and most notably collaborations such as providing leadership in crafting the states Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Plan that will serve as the official community jurisdictional piece regarding the impact of federal dollars extended to Arkansas for HIV and AIDS. The group continues to pursue its media track while releasing it's next version of it's Holistic Health Guide, conclude the sales of it's periodical, "Our Lives, Our Stories," and  execute promoting it's  LGBTQ health journal entitled, OMNIBUS slated for a mid summer release. Additional board positions are open and qualified applicants can submit their interest by e-mail at info@lacorponline.org or by fax 855.792.5483.  Advertising opportunity information can be obtained at 501.379.8903

Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan (CHPP) 2012 Moves Forward

The Living Affected Corporation's CEO, Diedra Levi, has been spearheading the research and culmination of the states Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan which will be the overlay of the jurisdictional plan as mandated by the Center's for Disease Control. Each state is required to developed a plan that will provide a  jurisdiction-wide document that should address all HIV prevention activities and inform decisions about how all HIV prevention funds are to be used, including federal, state, local, and, when possible, private resources. If a jurisdiction implements more than one CPG, the comprehensive plan should summarize any multiple or regional plans into one document. The plan, whether designed to be a one- or multi-year document, must be updated annually. As the health department's federal funding for HIV prevention is on a five-year cycle, the CPG's final plan for the 2004-2008 project period should guide the development of the next five-year funding cycle (January 2009-December 2013).  According to Levi, (pictured) there has been an underwhelming and lackluster involvement with producing the plan including information delays and other obstacles that have been unfortunate. "We are going forward despite some setbacks," she said. "There will be a plan in place by the deadline come mid-August. Too much time has elapsed and this is our priority for 2012." she concluded. In order to maximize access to the planning meetings, LA Corp secured the use of the AnyMeeting platform which allow users to participate via both video and teleconference from their remote locations or individuals are invited to the organizations offices. (401 North Maple, Suite A, North Little Rock inside the Argenta Church complex.) The objective of the plan is to guide how HIV prevention programs in the jurisdiction should respond to the HIV epidemic in implementing HIV prevention community planning, partner counseling and referral services (PCRS), health education/risk reduction (HE/RR), capacity building, evaluation, and other health department activities conducted under Program Announcement #04012 (2004-2008), HIV Prevention Projects, Notice of Availability of Funds. The plan must consider all HIV prevention activities regardless of funding. Thus, it is important for the CPG(s) to know and understand the extent and array of prevention funds that will be allocated as a result of both the health department's and other funders' implementation of the CPG's target population priorities and set of prevention activities/intervention, as described in the Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan. (source: www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/cba ) This meeting recurs every 1 week(s) on Tuesday from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) starting on 6/12/2012 and ending on 8/6/2012 (Add to Calendar) Conference Call : Toll Number: (512) 400-4809 | Attendee Access Code: 921 3821

Rainbow Living and Affected

FDA approves first over-the-counter home-use rapid HIV test

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, the first over-the-counter home-use rapid HIV test kit to detect the presence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The Living Affected Corporation applauds this effort in the struggle to continue encourage "testing as apart of the prevention arsenal."

The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is designed to allow individuals to collect an oral fluid sample by swabbing the upper and lower gums inside of their mouths, then place that sample into a developer vial, and obtain test results within 20 to 40 minutes. A positive result with this test does not mean that an individual is definitely infected with HIV, but rather that additional testing should be done in a medical setting to confirm the test result. Orasure testing is available from The Living Affected Corporation without charge upon request. Additional counseling and or referrals are also accessible from the agency whom also cite that early detection and following up with a accessing a care continuum is vital to managing this chronic disease.

Similarly, a negative test result does not mean that an individual is definitely not infected with HIV, particularly when exposure may have been within the previous three months. The test has the potential to identify large numbers of previously undiagnosed HIV infections especially if used by those unlikely to use standard screening methods.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV infection. About one in five are not aware they are infected. There are about 50,000 new HIV infections every year. Many of these new infections are transmitted from people who are unaware of their HIV status.

"Knowing your status is an important factor in the effort to prevent the spread of HIV," said Karen Midthun, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "The availability of an over-the-counter home-use rapid HIV test kit provides another option for individuals to get tested so that they can seek medical care, if appropriate."

Clinical studies for self-testing have shown that the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test has an expected performance of 92 percent for test sensitivity, the percentage of results that will be positive when HIV is present. This means that one false negative result would be expected out of every 12 test results in HIV-infected individuals.

Clinical studies also have shown that the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test has an expected performance of 99.98 percent for test specificity, the percentage of results that will be negative when HIV is not present. This means that one false positive would be expected out of every 5,000 test results in uninfected individuals.

OraSure Technologies, the manufacturer of the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test will have a consumer support center that is available via phone and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The center will be operational and available to educate users with information about HIV/AIDS, the proper method for administering the test and guidance on what to do once results have been obtained once the manufacturer makes the product available for sale to the public. Information about the consumer support center and contact information is included in the test kit. Contact LA Corp at 501.379.8203, toll free: 877.902.7HIV or info@lacorponline.org for direct information.

OraSure Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Bethlehem, Pa. A version of this test for use by trained technicians in clinical settings was approved in 2004.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Living and Affected in Hope

Living Affected Corporation Announces

2012 has been a year of reflection, growth and resurgences for The Living Affected Corporation. After successfully testifying before a legislative review board concerning its efforts to secure the position as a Arkansas Department of Health sub grantee. The organization was awarded for a second consecutive year a grant to implement a HIV prevention intervention targeting gay Black men severely impacted by the HIV and AIDS in Central Arkansas area. The program, D-Up which is a community level based evidenced based intervention also propelled the group into a exploring strategic training modules to further assess the direction and impact that the agency will pursue. At the core of the groups course of action is the development of both a new mission and vision statements that clarify and galvanize the structure, actions and agenda moving forward in 2012. The group has been instrumental in supporting the creation of the STRILITE consumer driven based group under its prevention initiative. Serving as an incubator has proven essential to nurturing the upstart into a impending stand alone vehicle independently capable of accessing funding streams.

The new Vision Statement reads: " we are the statewide organization that is informed and connected to change the social construct of the community we serve by improving basic human rights." Developed through it strategic development exercises, The Living Affected organization also believes that its mission statement of "transforming communities through holistic health by providing, education and advocacy," will be vital in its efforts ultimately culminating in creating a Wellness Institute that will effectively change lives in our lives and community. 

With those core elements developed, LA Corp also wanted to refresh its brand through the launch of a new logo identity embracing its "HEFTE" conceptual approach to dealing holistically with it client based. The agency took the position that as it positions itself toward future expansion, the upgrade of the brand signifies that as a group, trending with cutting edge graphics and messaging will continue to be hallmark of the organizations media mix. Also on the 2012 drawing board is future fundraisers, more publications from its publishing arm, networking events and community collaborations. If you want to come share your talents, volunteer time or personal treasure, contact us at info@lacorponline.org or call us at 501.379.8203. Let us hear from you today!!!

Engaging with Communities of Color Using New Media

By Meico Whitlock, AIDS.gov Senior Fellow

Racial and ethnic minorities have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic and, according to CDC data, represent the majority of new AIDS diagnoses, new HIV infections, people living with HIV/AIDS, and AIDS deaths. At the same time, the Pew Internet & American Life Project recently reported that communities of color are also leaders in the use of the mobile web and many major social media platforms such as Twitter. AIDS.gov views these concurrent trends as an important opportunity to leverage these new and emerging communication tools to make a real difference in HIV prevention, care, and treatment among communities of color. So, in May AIDS.gov hosted its second roundtable discussion on communities of color and new media for our federal partners. The conversation brought together public health, new media, and community leaders across the nation to share best practices for leveraging emerging technologies to build the capacity of organizations and leaders responding to the HIV epidemic. These dialogues are part of ongoing efforts to fulfill the promise of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) (PDF 1.37MB). In addition, identifying and disseminating best practices is critical to achieving the objectives of the Digital Government Strategy (DGS) (PDF 660KB), recently released by the White House.


The Evolution of New Media

Panelists (PDF 360KB) kicked off the discussion by reflecting on how new media have evolved since 2009 (the last time AIDS.gov hosted a New Media and Communities of Color discussion). They noted that mobile device adoption and usage has soared and continues to do so. Shwen Gwee, Vice President of Digital Health at Edelman , observed that many more people are able to access and use mobile devices today than were able to do so even a few years ago due to reductions in cost and diversification of products and data plans. This trend has significant implications for those seeking to deliver HIV/AIDS and other health information online since, according to the Digital Government Strategy, by 2015 more Americans are projected to access the Internet via mobile devices than desktops PCs. Not only are mobile devices now more widely available, they have also shaped how new media enter our lives by making more information than ever before available anytime and anywhere. Participants also shared findings that people are becoming more comfortable with the tools and are less hesitant to use them to search for health information. Given these trends, it’s not surprising that the number of new media platforms has also increased. However, panelist Fard Johnmar of Enspektos, LLC reminded us that, “Content, not technology, is the key to reaching and engaging people about health and wellness online. Relevant and useful content has the ability to transcend media platforms and reach people where they live, work and play—whether they are using the tethered or untethered Web.”

Challenges with Using New Media to Engage Audiences

Despite the proliferation of mobile technologies and new media platforms, the roundtable observed that some challenges in reaching communities of color online remain. For example, digital divides in terms of connectivity and quality of access persist despite the changing mobile landscape. Social Media Strategist Shireen Mitchell noted that to effectively reach Latin American and African American communities, “If you’re not doing some form of [text messaging], you won’t be able to reach [all] of them” because not everyone has a smart phone with Internet access or applications (or “apps”). Similarly, other participants pointed out the limitations of reaching users of mobile devices in low income communities, which tend to be heavy users of “pay-as-you-go” plans that limit Internet usage. Phone sharing among family and friends also poses a challenge for targeting mobile users. Tony Aaron Fuller of the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center also noted that members of some communities, especially some Native American communities, are so far behind the technology curve that they need help developing basic digital literacy skills such as typing, logging into a computer, and navigating the Internet.
Other panelists highlighted the difficulty in reaching non-English speakers, especially members of the Latino and Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Participants also noted that it’s extremely important to create culturally appropriate content in English and the native language of the audience you intend to reach. Another major challenge mentioned by the group was effectively targeting compelling messages to communities that are already bombarded with vast amounts of information, in part as a result of increased Internet connectivity.

Opportunities and Recommendations

Despite the challenges, the group also outlined a number of opportunities for successfully leveraging new media to engage communities of color:

1. Remember your audience – While it’s easy to get excited by the newest technology, it’s important to take a step back and think about who your audience is. This is the foundation of the POST strategy (people – objectives – strategy – technology), which we’ve talked about before on this blog. You can use this as a framework for your planning efforts.

2. Create once, repurpose often – Given the increase in the number of tools and platforms, it’s easy to get carried away creating a strategy for each communication channel you use. But it’s more important to develop compelling content tailored to the needs of your audience and then repurpose that content over various new media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or other channels.

3. Keep it simple – Although mobile devices and new media platforms continue to increase in number, bear in mind that many people still rely on “old school” technologies like email and text messaging. So don’t forget them when planning your strategy.

4. Build relationships – As one participant noted, “People trust people and need to trust people they know. They don’t trust entities and they don’t trust buildings.” Build a relationship with your audience by consistently sharing relevant content and engaging in a two-way conversation.

5. Bridge online and offline interactions – Bring together community leaders and online influencers in the communities you want to reach and find out how you can work together. Tweetups are one way to achieve this goal.

As one panelist reminded us at the conclusion of the conversation, “Technology is great, but it’s really about the content and the people – and connecting the content to the people. New media are just tools to do that.”

AIDS.gov will continue this conversation at “The State of New Media and HIV,” a satellite session at the 19th International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday, July 23, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. If you are attending the conference, we hope you can join us! You can also follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #newmediaHIV.

Scaling Up Effective Messaging

ENDGAME: Black Americans Coming to Grips with HIV and AIDS
Stigma, Silence, and Secrets. Its the deadly trinity of the culture of ignorance that will be explored Tuesday, July 10, 21012 in a ground breaking documentary, "ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America." The depth and scope of this health dilemma will get a bold and refreshing examination from Renata Simone, who produced, directed and wrote the film, and Dr. Robert Fullilove, a professor of clinical sociomedical studies at Columbia University. Each of these individuals were on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross to discuss the political, social and cultural factors that caused the epidemic to spread within the African American community, and why prevention has yet to work. This program is one of my favorites shows featuring Terry Gross whom doesn't hesitate to cover topics that could be considered controversial or explosive. Ms. Simone, spoke of harm reduction efforts in the ATL especially those whom are IDU (intravenous drug users) stakeholders that eventually seek treatment amidst the lack of available beds.

 Dr. Fullilove illustrated how the lack of actions on dealing with "crack culture" which embraced sex workers, lack of effective prison policies addressing sexual violence and the inability of prevention messages to thwart the cultural norm of no "latex barriers" has been apart of the failure of health framework. Simone also highlighted the plight of how many Black women have been infected with the disease. She cited that after the expansion of the AIDS diagnosis definition there was an explosion of incidence rates among Black women. Many of which could have resulted in misdiagnosis or related illness may have not been treated with drug regimens. COP 24/7 has been vigilant and determine to post the latest health information, links, updates and statistics that continues to signify the seriousness of this health crisis. I've attempted to be a clarion call directly to the Black community that the influx of individuals being released from prison, the onset of additional infections through drug usage, the issues of infections among those in long term care situations and the need of having health ministry that seeks to embrace persons holistically.

 With only 3 percent of federal dollars being spent on prevention will require local entities such as The Living Affected Corporation to maximize its resources in its mission to be apart of the testing matrix and promoting "prevention as treatment" while interweaving the social determinants of housing, educations, food, treatment and employment within the fabric of retaining persons in care. We applaud the FDA's newly approved home HIV testing kit, but implore individuals who use this method and get a positive result to seek counseling and access to treatment. COP 24/7 has embeded the trailer to give you a flavor how why you should be tuning in and encourages watchers to share their observations and viewpoints with us next week.

Watch Endgame: AIDS in Black America on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.