AIDS Project Showing Ganjian Art

AIDS Project Greater Danbury is featuring the works of artist Jonathan-Joseph Ganjian, its board adviser, at the Brookfield Theatre for the Arts in Brookfield, Conn., during its production of “Rent,” to raise funds and awareness for individuals with HIV/AIDS.

Visitors can see the works prior to performances Wednesdays–Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. throughout July.

Ganjian is an HIV-positive artist who works primarily on canvas and with glass.

The AIDS Project will use 30 percent of the proceeds from sales of Ganjian’s works to help fund re-wrapping a Prevention on Wheels van so that individuals can find it more easily as it travels through town. The van provides testing and syringe exchange to those at high risk for HIV and other STDs.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.

To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!

Patients at Chanute Hospital Possibly Exposed to Hepatitis, HIV

Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kans., announced on July 16 that more than 240 patients who underwent colonoscopies at the center might have been exposed to hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV, among other diseases, due to improper scope sanitization. Neosho Memorial Chief Executive Officer Dennis Franks said patients who underwent colonoscopies between January and July 3 might have been exposed to potential infections; the hospital did not become aware of the issue until July 5.

The hospital is sending priority-mail notifications to the 244 patients it thought might have been affected. Franks also said Neosho Memorial would cover all testing costs, as well as treatment, if anyone tested positive. The hospital plans to send blood samples from affected patients to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for testing, with results available in approximately two weeks. Franks described the situation as an "oversight in training after an upgrade in equipment," but stressed that infection control specialists thought the risk of infection was extremely low. Officials continue to investigate the situation.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.

To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!

Association of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection with HIV Acquisition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

French researchers investigating the association of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) with HIV acquisition searched databases, including Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane database and conference abstracts for studies published up to January 31, 2012. The researchers focused on finding studies conducted with humans that reported data on HIV incidence and determined the association of HIV with genital HPV infection.

The researchers found 2,170 articles and 431 conference proceedings. After removing duplicates and irrelevant material, they were left with 14 abstracts, eight of which they rejected for not meeting the inclusion criteria. They completed their final research with five nested cohort studies and one case-control study on association between genital HPV and HIV, with a total of 6,567 participants. Four studies focused on female subjects and two on male. All studies, except one with men who have sex with men, were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa with heterosexual adults; two of the African studies were among high-risk women—mostly sex workers. The researchers performed systematic review and meta-analysis on the studies as well as subgroup analyses for high-risk and low-risk oncogenic (cancer-causing) HPV risk groups.

All six studies reported significant estimates of the association of HPV with HIV incidence. Results showed that individuals with genital HPV infection, regardless of whether they were in a high- or low-risk oncogenic risk group, had twice the risk of acquiring HIV. The researchers suggested further research to determine the biological mechanisms involved and to assess the effect of HPV vaccination on HIV acquisition.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.

To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!

Obama Orders Stepped Up Effort Against U.S. HIV/AIDS Epidemic

In response to criticism of his Administration’s HIV/AIDS efforts, President Obama commissioned the HIV Care Continuum Working Group to review HIV research and federal HIV data and recommend improvements to HIV treatment and care in the United States. Citing new studies that indicated “aggressive testing and early treatment” could prevent HIV transmission, Obama’s order called for better coordination of the US effort. The working group, chaired by Office of National AIDS Policy Director Grant Colfax and US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, must deliver recommendations to Obama within 180 days.

Under the Affordable Care Act, all 15- to 65-year-olds would be eligible for HIV screening, which is consistent with new US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. Although the new order would supplement Obama’s 2010 National AIDS Strategy, AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein was not optimistic the new direction would be sufficient to achieve Obama’s stated goal of an AIDS-free generation in the United States. Weinstein suggested the United States could learn from other countries where HIV rates have declined.

CDC reported that the US HIV prevalence rate has remained steady at approximately 50,000 for the past decade. In July 2012, an Emory University team found that HIV incidence among US black gay and bisexual men was as high as HIV rates in hard-hit sub-Saharan Africa.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.

To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!

Report Points at Dual Threat of HIV, TB in Nepal

A new survey report has revealed that in every 100 HIV infected people around 12 people (11.5 per cent) have Tuberculosis (TB).

According to the report, in every 100 TB patient two people (2.4 per cent) have HIV. Last week, National Tuberculosis Centre revealed the report after a yearlong survey on 400 HIV infected people(taking Anti-Retroviral treatment) and 1,000 people with TB (taking medicines) from its 12 treatment centres across the country.

The prevalence of HIV is rising in Nepal and effective control measures for AIDS and TB is more important now than ever before.

According to NTC, 45 per cent of the total population is infected with TB.

Every year, around 40,000 people contract TB, while 20,000 new sputum positive cases are reported and 5,000-7,000 people die from TB.

NTC had deployed volunteers and heath workers at the Thimi-based NTC, Pokhara-based Regional Tuberculosis Centre, Kanchancpur-based District Public Health Office, Nepalgunj-based International Nepal Fellowship (INF) and Biratnagar-based Nepal Tuberculosis Relief Association by establishing treatment centres in those places to find out about HIV infection in people with TB.

During the survey, it had also established treatment centres at the Dharan- based BP Koirala Health Science Academy, Teku-based Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Pokhara-based Western Regional Hospital, Nepalgunj- based Bheri Zonal Hospital and Dhangadi-based Seti Zonal Hospital to find out whether where those infected with HIV/AIDS had TB.

Talking about the survey report, Dr Rajendra Prasad Pant, NTC director, said they could now easily predict the number of people with dual infection of TB and HIV and ease the treatment of such people.

He said, “Though the figure of infection of both diseases in a person is not too appalling, it is the responsibility of every organisation working in the health sector to stop dual infection in an individual.”

Citing the increase in infection of these two diseases, National Tuberculosis Programme and National AIDS Programme have been giving free treatment to such people. NTC has been providing DOTS services to TB patients, while the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control programme has been giving free Anti-Retroviral Treatment to people with HIV positive.

Sujit Kumar Shah, coordinator, TB and HIV in NTC, said TB and HIV were mostly detected in migrant workers, their wives, housewives and women sex workers aged between 20 and 39 years during the survey.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.

To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!

San Francisco Board Backfills HIV Money

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved backfilling $3 million in HIV funding for budget years 2013–2015. Mayor Ed Lee had already appropriated $4 million to fill in a funding gap for the current fiscal year, and $8 million in HIV/AIDS funding for 2014–2015. The whole two-year spending plan totaled almost $16 billion.

The board needed the money to backfill federal cuts stemming from reductions in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act and CDC funding, and cuts related to the federal sequestration. After the board committee approved the backfill, Supervisor Scott Wiener wrote in a recent e-mail, "I'm thrilled that we were able to get this done for the community and to avoid devastating cuts to our innovative and effective HIV care and prevention programs."

For the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, cuts would have forced them to reduce their substance use and mental health counseling services, assistance for clients to access HIV care, and prevention programs for Latinos at risk for HIV. The foundation estimated that approximately 16,000 HIV/AIDS-infected people live in the city.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.

To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!

San Francisco Board Backfills HIV Money

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved backfilling $3 million in HIV funding for budget years 2013–2015. Mayor Ed Lee had already appropriated $4 million to fill in a funding gap for the current fiscal year, and $8 million in HIV/AIDS funding for 2014–2015. The whole two-year spending plan totaled almost $16 billion.

The board needed the money to backfill federal cuts stemming from reductions in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act and CDC funding, and cuts related to the federal sequestration. After the board committee approved the backfill, Supervisor Scott Wiener wrote in a recent e-mail, "I'm thrilled that we were able to get this done for the community and to avoid devastating cuts to our innovative and effective HIV care and prevention programs."

For the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, cuts would have forced them to reduce their substance use and mental health counseling services, assistance for clients to access HIV care, and prevention programs for Latinos at risk for HIV. The foundation estimated that approximately 16,000 HIV/AIDS-infected people live in the city.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.

To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!