PACHA and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

By Amy Palilonis, AIDS.gov Presidential Management Fellow

As President Obama recognized in his remarks about the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (PDF, 12MB) (NHAS) on July 13, the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) played a critical role in the development of the Strategy. PACHA will also have several important responsibilities for implementing the Strategy, as outlined in the NHAS Implementation Plan (PDF 723 KB). PACHA is comprised of 25 members from diverse backgrounds who work together to provide information and recommendations to the HHS Secretary on policies and programs that promote effective HIV-prevention and treatment methods and expand HIV/AIDS-related research. Christopher Bates, from the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy at HHS, serves as PACHA’s Executive Director, while Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE USA , serves as the Council’s Chairperson.

Meeting the Need

By Kevin Fenton, M.D., Ph.D., FFPH, Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC (Cross-posted from Health Protection, Perspectives Blog)

Last week, CDC awarded $42 million to community-based organizations (CBOs) in cities and communities across the nation to support HIV prevention efforts. This funding puts resources directly in the hands of those with cultural knowledge and local perspective—those who have the best chance to reach people who might otherwise not access HIV testing or other prevention services.

These partnerships are a vital part of CDC’s fight against HIV. Community-based organizations are part of the daily fabric of our lives and a critical link to providing HIV prevention services where we live, work, and play.

Interview with Ernest Hopkins and Bob Grant about Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

by Miguel Gomez, AIDS.gov Director

Recently I sat down with Ernest Hopkins, Legislative Director at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation , and Bob Grant, M.D.,M.P.H. , Senior Investigator at the Gladstone Institute at University of California San Francisco , to talk about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Here is a video from our conversation.

HHS and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

By Miguel Gomez, AIDS.gov Director

Dr. Ron Valdiserri

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where AIDS.gov is housed, has specific responsibilities for implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). The Strategy is intended to be a roadmap plan for responding more effectively to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. NHAS identifies a set of priorities and strategic action steps tied to measurable outcomes—and the NHAS Implementation Plan (PDF 723 KB) assigns specific implementation responsibilities to Federal agencies and Departments.

The HHS leaders who will oversee the Department’s NHAS responsibilities are Dr. Howard Koh, the Assistant Secretary for Health, and his designated lead, Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Infectious Diseases. In addition, the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), which reports directly to the HHS Secretary, has a significant role in monitoring and evaluating the NHAS.*

International AIDS Conference 2010: Highlights & Key Scientific Outcomes From Andrew Fullem

Guest post by Andrew Fullem, MSPH, AIDS.gov Advisor and Director for JSI & World Education's Center for HIV and AIDS

Andrew Fullem, MSPH, AIDS.gov Advisor and Director for JSI & World Education's Center for HIV and AIDS

I’ve been fortunate to attend international HIV conferences for many years. Several of those conferences stand out in my memory for the results they produced. In Vancouver (1996), researchers first announced the results of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) clinical trials—changing the future for millions of us living with HIV. In Durban (2000), delegates to the conference made an urgent call to ensure access to treatment for people in Africa and other regions of the world heavily impacted by HIV. Now the XVIII International AIDS Conference which recently concluded in Vienna joins that list for memorable results. On Monday, July 19, researchers announced a significant step forward in the development of microbicides that may one day be widely available to provide critical protection from HIV and herpes.

It was an amazing few days with scientists, service providers, clients, and advocates talking and debating about what we need to do for those living with, and at risk for, HIV. Some of the highlights for me include: