National HIV/AIDS Strategy Meeting Videos Now Available

By Miguel Gomez, AIDS.gov Director

As we mentioned in last week’s post, the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) held a meeting on February 24, 2010 for the public to hear about the progress to date on the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). A video is now available of last week’s public meeting.

We spoke with some of our fellow attendees and asked them what they took away from the meeting, and we’ve created a video capturing some of those conversations. We hope you’ll take a look, and leave a comment about what you hope to see as development of the NHAS goes forward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9R0f_Nj-kA

Read the transcript.

Stay tuned to AIDS.gov and the ONAP website for more updates about the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

Federal Interagency Members Meet with Public on Next Steps for the National AIDS Strategy

By Julia Eisman, New Media Communications Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Gregorio Millett, Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, addresses the crowd

Approximately 200 people gathered today to hear about progress on one of President Obama's major initiatives—the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). This meeting provided an opportunity to update the public on the process for developing the Strategy, as well as current status and next steps. It allowed the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and HHS to share feedback from community discussions which began last summer, and offered participants the opportunity to meet with the Federal HIV Interagency Working Group – made up of representatives from agencies working on HIV/AIDS across the Federal government, including White House offices. The working group was brought together in an effort to establish a coordinated response to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

ONAP Announces Federal Interagency Members Developing National HIV/AIDS Strategy

By Gregorio Millett, Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (Cross-posted from the Office of National AIDS Policy Blog)

Office of National AIDS Policy Director Jeffrey Crowley speaks at a community discussion in Houston, TX.

On Wednesday, February 24th, from 2:00-3:45pm, the public will have an opportunity to hear more about our progress to date and the process that the interagency working group is following to develop the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, as well as meet the members of the interagency working group. The meeting is hosted by the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The meeting is not a community discussion, but designed to give the public an opportunity to hear what has already taken place and our next steps in developing the strategy.(See an agenda of the meeting.)

Secretary Sebelius Welcomes Members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS

By Miguel Gomez

Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius welcomed 24 new members to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). PACHA’s role is to work with the Secretary and provide information, advice, and recommendations on domestic and global HIV/AIDS policy issues to the President. PACHA also serves to further the policy goals of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and will play an important role in providing input for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

PACHA Members

Today’s meeting was PACHA’s first under the Obama administration. Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, introduced Secretary Sebelius. He restated HHS’ commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS and emphasized the importance of working with PACHA to create a strong, coordinated response to the epidemic. Jeffrey Crowley, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, provided an overview of his office and the status of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

Christopher Bates facilitating the public comments

After PACHA members were sworn in, Helene Gayle, who will chair the Council, made opening remarks and Christopher Bates, PACHA’s Executive Director, facilitated a period of public comments. During that discussion, a diverse group of HIV/AIDS researchers, service providers, community leaders, people living with HIV, and PACHA members commented on a wide range of issues, including homophobia, aging, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, HIV-prevention needs, sexual health, and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

In regard to the PACHA announcement, President Obama said: “We often speak about HIV/AIDS as if it’s only going on somewhere else—but we face a serious HIV/AIDS epidemic in America. That’s why, last year, my administration began crafting a new National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Today, I’m pleased to have a new group of experts joining PACHA, and I look forward to hearing from the Council about our continued efforts to prevent the spread of HIV infections in the United States and to provide care and treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS around the world.” Secretary Sebelius added: “These new members also represent the best of America. I look forward to their strategic guidance in assisting HHS to do its part in developing and implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and in supporting the important work of the PEPFAR program.”

For more information on PACHA, visit: http://www.aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/pacha

President Obama Signs the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009

By Christopher Bates, Director HHS’ Office of HIV/AIDS Policy

President Barack Obama and lawmakers applaud Jeanne White-Ginder, right, mother of Ryan White, during his remarks before signing the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. October 30, 2009.

Today President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. In his remarks at the signing, the President said, “over the past 19 years this legislation has evolved from an emergency response into a comprehensive national program for the care and support of Americans living with HIV/AIDS. It helps communities that are most severely affected by this epidemic and often least served by our health care system, including minority communities, the LGBT community, rural communities, and the homeless. It’s often the only option for the uninsured and the underinsured. And it provides life-saving medical services to more than half a million Americans every year, in every corner of the country.”