Zip Streaming into Fall

Commentary Discusses “On-the-Ground” Details Necessary to Achieve an AIDS-Free Generation

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 Services

World AIDS Day (December 1) is fast approaching and plans are underway both here at AIDS.gov and throughout the HIV/AIDS community to mark this important international health observance, which serves as a key opportunity to raise awareness and renew and invigorate our commitment to ending AIDS.

In anticipation of World AIDS Day, Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, authored a commentary in the November/December 2012 issue of Public Health Reports  providing insights into the challenges of achieving an AIDS-free generation.

In the commentary, Achieving an AIDS-Free Generation: It’s the Details the Matter , Dr. Valdiserri maintains that while new scientific breakthroughs are key to curbing the epidemic, we also must attend to the critical “on-the-ground” details of their implementation.

He proposes five principles for such implementation efforts: addressing the social determinants that fuel the epidemic, engaging communities in finding solutions to HIV/AIDS, encouraging leaders in all sectors to view the fight against HIV/AIDS as “their” fight, engineering the systems and infrastructure necessary to implement new research findings into practice, and adapting to changes in the epidemic.

As you prepare your World AIDS Day activities, I strongly encourage you to read Dr. Valdiserri’s article and use it an opportunity for discussion: what are you doing integrate evidence-based interventions into your policies and practices, and how are you attending to the day-to-day details of implementing the advances in prevention and clinical science?

OMNIBUS Seeks Advertisers

The OMNIBUS project is seeking advertisers and sponsors to widen its distribution throughout the mid-south. Under the initiative Healthy 20/20 innovations from Health and Human Services, the periodical was the first of its type to deal with health issues and dilemmas that were not HIVcentric, but rather addresses the organizations approach to holistic health. The group believes that "treating the whole individual, is primary to either linking or retaining them in care," said  D. Levi. Although HIV information was included, the tone and scope of the periodical was to be a "broad journal" of lived experiences and journeys. Also the journal serves as a resource guide with the latest statewide information for consumers and end users. Advertising and sponsorships contacts are available from info@lacorponline.org  or 501.379.8203 .


10 Years and the Dialogue Continues” – HIV Prevention as Social Justice for Black Gay Men/MSM 2013 and Beyond
 The only National conference for and by Black gay men, the 2013 National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities will be held in Los Angeles, CA from January 17– 20, 2013. Staff members of The Living Affected Corporation have expressed interest in attending and will seek resources to expend for expenses.

In press releases, organizers have shared that they are looking forward to another large turn out with the help of the residents, government officials and the host committee of Los Angeles. The conference theme, 10 Years and the Dialogue Continues” – HIV Prevention as Social Justice for Black Gay Men/MSM 2013 and Beyond reflects the renewed sense of unity and commitment to an end of HIV. NASEM Founder and CEO, Rudolph Carn stated that "there is strength in our diversity and we have seen that we, as a community are a powerful force to be reckoned with."

Also included in the event will be the introduction of the fifth Creating Responsible Intelligent Black Brothers (CRIBB) Fellowship participants. Plus a new first time conference partners, UCLA Health and, Hope & Healing (H3) conference. The H3 conference will take place the day before the 2013 conference starts.

Its purpose is to:
1) explore the current research, examining the intersection of behavioral, psychological, socio-cultural, and biomedical risk factors contributing to the HIV epidemic, as well as protective and resiliency factors among Black MSM
2) Develop and sustain local and national relationships between current and aspiring investigators, and community based participatory research collaborative to advance research and training aimed at reducing HIV among Black MSM
3) Generate reports, monographs and manuscripts that document key issues and provide recommendations for future research, programs and funding opportunities.

You can discover conference information by visiting: www.naesm.org for additional information about the conference or call (404) 691-8880. If you are you interested assisting staff members with attending the conference through donations call 501.379.8203 or www.lacorponoline.org