Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

Testify Online for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy!

October 6, 2009

Dear allies --

As you know, CHAMP has been active in fight for a measurable and effective National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS).

We wanted to give you this important update:

The White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) has launched a website where you can submit testimony and/or supporting documents for consideration by the panel developing the NHAS.

The deadline for online submission is November 23, 2009, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

ONAP has also finalized the dates for the remaining ONAP-sponsored community discussions (formerly known as "town meetings") on the NHAS.

CHAMP's HIV Prevention Justice Alliance has developed a worksheet (available in both English and Spanish) to help people develop oral testimony for the community discussions. We encourage you to distribute them widely!

We are also available to present on teleconferences or assist in planning for local groups organizing yourselves for the ONAP community discussions or holding independent convenings to gather testimony. Just drop us a line and we'll do whatever we can.

Whether you testify in person or online, we encourage you to mention "HIV Prevention Justice" in your testimony, in order to show a unified movement for tackling the root causes of HIV/AIDS.

And we'd love to get a copy of your testimony -- whether a written document or video of you practicing at home or speaking at a community discussion -- to learn more bout the depth and breadth of the issues of importance to HIV Prevention Justice advocates! Please email any materials to jdavids@champnetwork.org.

If there's anything else we can do to support you in joining the effort to shape the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, please let us know.

Thanks for all of your efforts towards HIV Prevention Justice,

Laura, Josh, Julie, Kelly, Waheedah and all of us at CHAMP

This article was provided by Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project.

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Comment by: coffee (Florida) Fri., Nov. 13, 2009 at 8:49 pm EST
I have been positive for over twenty years. I recieved Das/has for about five years .. I am saddened to know that if i want to go to work i will lose all of my medical benefits but if i stay on the financial program i can be fully covered. That is just crazy. I want to work but I can't afford my meds if I do.. Does any one know of any help for people who want to work but need medical help?

Comment by: Lynda Faye Wilson (New Haven, Ct) Fri., Nov. 13, 2009 at 1:04 pm EST
As everyone is aware of, or should be aware of by now, it is not only advantages in taking your prescribed medications but rather crucial more so than not to be consistant taking it/them. However, it is emotionally and mental torture when one must go on what this states' medical assistance refer to as "SPEND-DOWN" a number of times in one year. Especially when one is on a fixed income that only increase perhaps at the end of each year for the entire following year. The only increases during the year is everything else from toilet tissue to medication/food, but not your income for the larger majority of us on Social Security Disability. However, those on Social Security Insurance hare not hammered with "SPEND-DOWNS." As a matter of FACT, when "SPEND-DOWN" is even mentioned to them, they treat like an alien or mentally disturbed patient and say to you quickly "SPEND-DOWN? WHAT's THAT? I NEVER HEARD OF THAT! I am unable to hold-down a full time job, though I'd love to be doing the work I've done most recently, not am I able to even keep-up with a job status of PART-TIME because that demand consistancy which my health does not allow. The STRESS "SPEND-DOWN" causes makes one SICKER andit is just awful to try and function with your anxiety level sky high. Plus, any doctor will tell you that STRESS is the worst enemy of my inherited condition. While looking at Health Reform, please take a closer look at this dilema. Thanks in advance

Comment by: Awa Jatta (The Gambia) Wed., Nov. 11, 2009 at 10:12 am EST
I work for PLHIV Support group in the Gambia. we advocate for the reduction of stigma& discrimintion. I am back up vocal for the Band. the album has songs on the HIV mode of transmition and prention, promotion of VCT, ARV treatment, let the whole world fight againg HIV/AIDS, the stigmatisation of HIV orphans and friendship - a friend with HIV can still be a friend to one. curently, we have remixed tyhe album with Jaliba Kuyateh, Gambian king best mucician and we are planing to launch the second album on World AIDS Day.If any body want to know more about the story about how this initiative came about, contact: allatentu@yahoo.com

Comment by: jennifer (columbus ms) Thu., Nov. 5, 2009 at 12:20 am EST
where i live there is no help for people living with hiv i have teeth problems and medicaid will cover to pull teeth but to get dentures is not impotant the say u dont need teeth but i think that is crazy i have to eat please can some one tell me about some help

Comment by: Phillip Ramsey (Panama City, Florida) Mon., Oct. 26, 2009 at 2:29 pm EDT
Something needs to be don quickly about the "donut hole" in the part D Medicare. With the high cost of the HIV medications, i go into the donut within the first three months of each year and I cannot afford my medications after I reach that point. There needs to be greater consideration for help thru this period of time.

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