AIDS Action Weekly Update

• This Week in Washington
  • AIDS Action Calls on Administration to Address Health Disparities
  • Administration Announced CDC Management Team
  • AIDS Watch Set for June 9-11, 2002 -- AIDS Action National Partner
  • USCA Call for Abstracts -- AIDS Action National Partner
• In the News
  • OMH Announces Grants
  • Ms. Foundation for Women Announces Grant
  • CBC Health Braintrust Scheduled
  • San Francisco HIV Infection Rate Rising
• AIDS Action Board Member Highlight

This Week in Washington

AIDS Action Calls on Administration to Address Health Disparities

AIDS Action Executive Director, Dr. Marsha Martin, has sent letters to President George W. Bush and US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, urging them to increase the Administration's commitment and efforts towards eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care services. This action followed the release of a March 20, 2002 report by the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) at The National Academy of Science stating, "differences in treating heart disease, cancer, and HIV infection partly contribute to higher death for minorities.... Minorities also are less likely to receive the most sophisticated treatments for HIV infection, which could forestall the onset of AIDS." Dr. Martin concluded by requesting that the US Department of Health and Human Services continue supporting the outreach efforts to underserved communities and invited the Administration to work with the HIV/AIDS community to develop effective, science-based approaches to eradicating health disparities.

Administration Announced CDC Management Team

On Friday, March 29th, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced an interim management team to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until a new agency director is named. Dr. David Fleming, the Deputy Director for Science and Public Health, will serve as Acting Director; Dr. James Hughes, Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Julie Gerberding, Acting Deputy Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, will be responsible for CDC's bioterrorism response; and Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, will serve as Secretary Thompson's representative at the CDC.

While AIDS Action looks forward to working with these individuals, there are concerns regarding the Administration's slow progress in finding qualified, effective individuals for essential leadership positions within the US Department of Health and Human Services. The President only recently recommended individuals for NIH Director and Surgeon General. Meanwhile, the Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention within CDC and numerous other leadership positions remain vacant or are filled with individuals in "acting" capacities. To read the entire press release from DHHS: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/20020329a.html.

AIDS Watch Set for June 9-11, 2002 -- AIDS Action National Partner

AIDS Action, in partnership with the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), is pleased to announce that AIDS Watch 2002, the annual HIV/AIDS grassroots advocacy event is scheduled for June 9-11, 2002 in Washington, D.C.

AIDS Watch 2002 will include a day of education and advocacy training sessions followed by two days of visits with members of Congress, congressional staff and Administration officials. Participants will highlight the need for increased funding for HIV/AIDS programs, as well as advocate for policies impacting those persons at-risk or living with HIV/AIDS. To learn more about AIDS Watch 2002 or to register on-line go to: http://www.napwa.org/pubdocs/aidswatchreg.htm.

USCA Call for Abstracts -- AIDS Action National Partner

As a partnering organization of the U.S. Conference on AIDS, AIDS Action would like to remind its members that the call for abstracts is open until April 8, 2002. The abstracts can be in the areas of Care/Primary Care, Executive Director Leadership, Fundraising & Finance, Public Policy, Housing, International HIV/AIDS, Prevention, Treatment & Research, Nutrition and Special Issues. Presentation formats for this year are workshops, seminars, roundtable discussions and poster sessions. If your abstract is accepted by the conference Planning Committee, you may be offered a free conference registration. Abstracts can be submitted electronically or via mail to the National Minority AIDS Council.

In the News

OMH Announces Grants

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) within the US Department of Health and Human Services has announced a grant for Early Intervention HIV Services Planning.

Applicants must be public or nonprofit private entities that are, or intend to become, eligible to apply for the Title III Early Intervention Services grant under the Ryan White CARE Act. These grants support the planning process and do not fund service delivery or patient care. Preference will be given to applicants located in rural or underserved areas where emerging or ongoing HIV primary health care needs have not been adequately met.

Ms. Foundation for Women Announces Grant

The Ms. Foundation is the country's only national, multi-issue fund solely dedicated to advancing issues for women through grant-making, training, and public education. The Women and AIDS Fund, organized by the Foundation, identifies and supports community-based organizations run by and for women living with HIV/AIDS. The Fund supports programs working in the areas of prevention, advocacy and public policy. It builds the capacity of these organizations by providing them with direct grants, technical assistance, training and networking opportunities. To learn more: http://www.ms.foundation.org/issues-health-aids.html.

CBC Health Braintrust Scheduled

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Spring Health Braintrust is scheduled for April 11 and 12. This year's Braintrust will focus on the progress made by the US Department of Health and Human Services initiative to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health. The list of invited speakers includes: HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, Deputy Secretary Claude Allen and officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). To learn more: http://www.urbanhealthcast.com/CBCBrainTrust.pdf.

San Francisco HIV Infection Rate Rising

The Associated Press is reporting an increase in the number of new HIV infections in the San Francisco Bay area. Gordon Mansergh, a behavioral scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, attributes the rise to the decrease in condom use among men who have sex with men (MSM). The study concludes that new prevention measures need to be developed and implemented to prevent the spread of HIV among MSMs. To learn more about this study: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/04/04/state0328EST0017.DTL.

AIDS Action Board Member Highlight

The AIDS Action Council Board of Directors consists of local HIV/AIDS service providers throughout the United States. Each week, the Update will highlight one of these service providers and the work they are doing to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in their region.

AIDS Research Alliance, founded in 1989 and located in West Hollywood, California, is an alliance of AIDS physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and academic and government scientists charged with finding new drugs and therapies to eliminate the HIV epidemic. The Alliance's drug development and clinical research programs currently focus on three major areas: eliminating the HIV viral "reservoir" or the virus that continues to lurk in hard-to-reach sites in the body; restoring the immune system of HIV positive individuals so it can recognize and respond to HIV; and developing anti-HIV drugs that inhibit the virus' growth and replication. The Alliance also offers full-service Contract Research Organization (CRO) services to small, developing-stage companies. To learn more about AIDS Research Alliance, their stare-of-the-art research and (CRO) development services: http://www.aidsresearch.org/.