AIDS Action Weekly Update

• This Week in Washington
  • AIDS Action Co-Hosts Candlelight Memorial
  • House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Health Disparities
  • Two Sets of Guidelines Are Released for Gay Men and Their Doctors
  • AIDS Action Staff Attends Legal Conference on HIV/AIDS Action
  • APLA Calls for More California Leadership on HIV/AIDS Issues
• In the News
  • Lack of Insurance Limiting Health Care
  • Brazil Using Harm Reduction Tools to Successfully Combat HIV
  • French Study Proves Effectiveness of Combination Drug Therapy
  • New SPNS Grant Initiative Announced for Information Technology in HIV Care
  • New Community-Based Dental Partnership Grant Initiative Announced
  • HIV/AIDS-Related Cable Programming Funding Available From Cable Positive
• AIDS Action Board Member Highlight

This Week in Washington

AIDS Action Co-Hosts Candlelight Memorial

On Sunday, May 19, 2002 AIDS Action participated in the Washington D.C. observance of the 19th Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Over 100 people attended the event, which was jointly sponsored by AIDS Action, Capitol Hill Group Ministry, Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, Global Health Council and Partners Against HIV/AIDS Ethiopia. Speakers at the event included Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC); Dr. Marsha Martin, AIDS Action Executive Director; Ronald Lewis, the head of the District of Columbia Department of Health Administration for HIV/AIDS; Cornelius Baker, Executive Director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic; Dr. Ron Simmons, Executive Director of Us Helping Us, People Into Living Inc.; Rachel Adamu, Founder/Director of Fifty Lemons, Inc; and Ron Macinnis, HIV/AIDS Policy Advisor, US Agency for International Development. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in its 19th year honors the memory of those lost to HIV/AIDS, to show support for those living with HIV/AIDS, to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, and to mobilize communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The theme for this year's event was "share your vision for a brighter tomorrow," and more than 1500 communities in over 80 countries joined together to remember those who have died of AIDS-related illness and in support of those who are living with HIV/AIDS.

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Health Disparities

On Tuesday, May 21, 2002, the House Committee on Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources held a hearing to discuss "Racial Disparities in Health Care: Confronting Unequal Treatment." The hearing addressed concerns raised by Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD), prompted by an Institute of Medicine (IOM) study reporting a gap in the quality of health care received by whites and minorities. Testimonies addressed the need for universal health care, cross-cultural education for physicians, an increased number of minority physicians available to serve communities, and more community-based and culturally appropriate research.

Two Sets of Guidelines Are Released for Gay Men and Their Doctors

The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) released two sets of guidelines for health practitioners advising them on cultural competency when dealing with their gay male clients. The first asks "doctors to create a comfortable setting and ask tough questions" relating to sexual health activities. GLMA also suggests that sexual risks questions be incorporated into the risk assessment questionnaires. For more information or the complete document contact them at www.glma.org. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also targeted gay men in the recently issued "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines," due to the increasing rise in syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia rates. A CDC spokesperson stated, "Physicians should not make assumptions about their patient's sexuality and sexual practices."

AIDS Action Staff Attends Legal Conference on HIV/AIDS Action

AIDS Action staff was among the approximately 100 participants who attended "HIV/AIDS Law and Practice: 'From Nuts and Bolts' to 'Cutting Edge,'" a three day conference sponsored by the AIDS Coordinating Committee and AIDS Coordination Project of the American Bar Association. AIDS Action was one of the co-sponsors of the event, which was designed to foster a dialogue among legal service providers and others working as advocates for people with HIV/AIDS.

Panels at the event focused on a wide range of legal and social issues, including "Today's Discrimination Laws and People With HIV," "Social Security Practice: Establishing Disability Based on HIV," "Access to Care," "Government Health Insurance: Medicaid, Medicare, & ADAP," "Women's Health Issues," "Immigration," and "Private Insurance." Panelists included attorneys and other advocates representing legal service agencies, private firms, AIDS service organizations, and government agencies from around the country.

APLA Calls for More California Leadership on HIV/AIDS Issues

In a report released Tuesday on the state of HIV/AIDS in California, AIDS Project Los Angeles, member of the AIDS Action Council Board, says that more effort is needed at the state level because the federal government cannot be relied upon to adequately fund critical programs and provide leadership on HIV/AIDS issues. Titled "Beyond Complacency: A Call for Renewed Leadership in the Third Decade of AIDS," the document reports that California leaders must avoid cutting back on AIDS funding, despite the current fiscal crisis in the state, if HIV-positive Californians are to "stay ahead of the curve" in terms of access to HIV treatment and services.

In the News

Lack of Insurance Limiting Health Care

On Wednesday May 22, 2002, The Washington Post reported on a study released by the Institutes of Medicine showing that the lack of health insurance in America leads to delayed diagnoses, life-threatening complications and, ultimately, 18,000 premature deaths each year. To read the article, click here.

Brazil Using Harm Reduction Tools to Successfully Combat HIV

According to the Brazilian government, a controversial program enacted in 2000 to distribute condoms and sterile needles to drug users has resulted in a reduction of approximately 25% fewer new HIV infections.

French Study Proves Effectiveness of Combination Drug Therapy

On Tuesday, May 21, 2002, Reuters reported that a study of HIV patients in France between 1992 and 1999, the time between initial HIV infection and progression to full-blown AIDS was extended due to the development of triple drug therapy from single antiviral drug therapy.

New SPNS Grant Initiative Announced for Information Technology in HIV Care

The Health Resources Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) Offices have announced a new grant opportunity under the Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) initiative. In a collaborative process with the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (AHRQ), these grants will seek to improve the impact and quality of care for people living with HIV through Information Technology. The grant program, operated through the AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs) evaluates the effectiveness of Information Technology (IT) to improve the delivery and quality of care to underserved HIV infected individuals. There are three areas of emphasis: (1) optimizing the delivery of health care; (2) optimizing outcomes and quality of health care; and (3) assessing the cost-effectiveness of IT interventions. Grants will be awarded for a four-year period and the application deadline is June 12, 2002. For more information: http://hab.hrsa.gov/grants/itguidancefinal.htm.

New Community-Based Dental Partnership Grant Initiative Announced

The Health Resources Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) Offices have announced a new grant opportunity under the Dental Reimbursement Program. These grant opportunities are designed to increase the access to oral health care for people living with HIV in community-based settings, and to provide support, education and training of students and residents enrolled in accredited dental education programs while providing care for people living with HIV under the supervision of a dentist in a community based setting. Funds will be awarded to up to 20 institutions including dental schools, post-doctorate programs and schools of dental hygiene for up to three years. Preference for funding will be given to proposals advocating partnerships in un-served and underserved communities and in areas where HIV positive populations have unmet oral health needs. Applications are encouraged from organizations that utilize multi-partner community-based collaborations and develop innovative programs. The application deadline for the Community-Based Dental Partnership grants is June 14, 2002. For more information: http://hab.hrsa.gov/grants/dental02.htm.

HIV/AIDS-Related Cable Programming Funding Available From Cable Positive

Cable Positive, which seeks to use the resources of the cable industry to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and compassion, makes funds available through its Tony Cox Fund for Local HIV/AIDS Programming to fund the production of HIV/AIDS-related cable programming, including public service announcements. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, with special consideration given to AIDS service organizations and cable systems and producers partnering with them. Grants range from $500 to $20,000. Applications are due June 7, 2002. For more information: www.cablepositive.org/programs-tonycox.html or contact Jesse Giuliani at 212-459-1547 or jesse@cablepositive.org.

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.

The AltaMed Health Services Corporation is a volunteer-staffed, non-profit organization located in East Los Angeles providing clinical services to approximately 43,000 families, annually, in minority and economically disadvantaged communities. A staff of bilingual and multicultural professionals offers a fully integrated system of care based on responsiveness to community needs. To contact: www.altamed.org/.