The Obama Administration’s Commitment to the Fight Against Global AIDS

By Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator

Ambassador Goosby is welcomed by representatives from the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.

On February 1, the Obama Administration released the FY2011 federal budget request. This request reflects the continued strong commitment of the U.S. Government to the fight against global AIDS. It is a central piece of the foreign policy and global health agenda outlined by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I’ve been working in HIV/AIDS for 25 years, both domestically and internationally. I can remember the days before the launch of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). At that time, in most of the sub-Saharan African countries that we’re engaged in now, patients were two to a bed, put under the bed, on the floors, and in the hallways, waiting for treatments that basically weren’t available.

President's Budget for HIV/AIDS at HHS

By Miguel Gomez

The President’s budget was released this week with an investment of more than $3 billion at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities to expand access to affordable healthcare and prevention services. (GPOAccesss.gov (PDF 324 KB), retrieved 2/1/10). According to the HHS Budget in Brief, this increase includes $31 million for CDC to integrate surveillance and monitoring systems, address high-risk populations, and support HIV/AIDS coordination and service integration with other infectious diseases. It also includes $40 million for HRSA’s Ryan White Program to expand access to care for underserved populations, provide life-saving drugs, and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. HHS domestic HIV/AIDS spending this fiscal year is estimated to be nearly $15.9 billion. The budget also focuses on HIV testing among high-risk groups, including men who have sex with men, African Americans, and Hispanics.

The President is committed to finding more effective ways to use those resources to prevent the transmission of HIV, to treat those who are living with it, and—in time—to find a vaccine and a cure. At this week’s PACHA Meeting, Secretary Sebelius reinforced that we are fortunate to have decisive leadership and a commitment from President Obama on responding to HIV/AIDS in the U.S. And at AIDS.gov we continue to support the President’s top priorities: Reducing HIV incidence; Increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes; and Reducing HIV-related health disparities.

Next week we will provide details on the President’s budget as it relates to the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

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

amfAR H1N1 Briefing: Interview with Dr. Susan J. Blumenthal

by Michelle Samplin-Salgado

On December 11, 2009, amfAR sponsored a Congressional briefing on the implications of H1N1 influenza for people living with HIV/AIDS .

Susan J. Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A. Senior Policy and Medical Advisor, amFAR

I sat down with Dr. Susan J. Blumenthal, Senior Policy and Medical Advisor for amfAR and former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, who moderated an expert panel with physicians, and policy and advocacy experts. Listen to a podcast from our conversation or read the transcripts.

Also at the briefing, amfAR released the fact sheet, 2009 H1N1 Flu and HIV/AIDS: What You Need to Know (PDF 133 KB) .

White House Hosts Senior Officials to Discuss the Domestic Response to HIV/AIDS

By Miguel Gomez

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Ambassador Eric P. Goosby, MD, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator

I just came back from an event at the White House, where Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that the 2012 International AIDS Conference will be held in Washington DC. This decision by the International AIDS Society comes as a result of President Obama's announcement that the U.S. will end its entry restrictions on people living with HIV. The conference was last held in the U.S. in 1990 in San Francisco, California.

Watch the video of the event:

On the eve of World AIDS Day, Secretary Clinton reminded us that "HIVAIDS is the defining health challenge of our time." Ambassador Eric Goosby, MD, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, told us that we have to "work harder and smarter." And as Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius told the audience, "if our results aren't changing, our actions must."