Coming Events 

November 15, 2011 

An estimated 3,000 people--including HIV/AIDS advocates, policy experts, health care professionals, elected officials and people living with HIV/AIDS--arrived in Chicago for the 15th Annual United States Conference on AIDS (USCA 2011) Nov. 10-13. The conference, sponsored by the National Minority AIDS Council, is the largest HIV/AIDS gathering in the nation.  More>> 

At the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Chicago, Walgreens announced that has now certified more than 500 of its pharmacies as HIV Centers of Excellence (COE) in communities highly impacted by HIV, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 More>> 

It was the disclosure heard around the world.

A just-released special supplement to the journal Women's Health Issues provides in-depth information about gender-specific health considerations of U.S. women and girls in the HIV/AIDS epidemic and recommendations for national strategic programmatic improvements to meet their needs.More>> 

This year we have achieved important milestones in our commitments to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities, including the release of Healthy People 2020 and the National Prevention Strategy, as well as the launch of the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

More>> 

What We're Reading  

A cross-section of articles we've read this week about HIV/AIDS  

and other sexual and reproductive health issues affecting the  

Black community.

 National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Hillary Clinton: 'End of AIDS is Now U.S. Government Policy 

It is an honor to be here with all of you today-in a room filled with some of America's best scientists and most passionate advocates, true global health heroes, in an institution that is on the front lines of the fight against HIV/AIDS. I especially want to recognize Ambassador Eric Goosby, our GlobalAIDS Coordinator, and his predecessor, Mark Dybul; Lois Quam, the executive director of our Global Health Initiative; Tom Frieden from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe. Thank you all for your service and leadership.

Jeff Crowley, White House ONAP Director, Resigns   Jeff Crowley, the director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), will leave his position by the end of this year, The Washington Blade reports.

Prevention

Rep. Barbara Lee, Sen. Frank Lautenberg Introduce Sex Ed Bill   U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) have introduced a bill to expand comprehensive sex education in schools, according to a statement by Lee.

Science

New Technologies May Increase Adherence to HIV Drugs   New technologies may help HIV-positive people adhere to their pill regimens, The Minnesota Daily reports. 

Rectal Microbicide Safe, Could Significantly Reduce HIV Transmission, Early Trial Suggests 

A topically applied microbicide gel containing a potent anti-HIV drug has been found to significantly reduce infection when applied to rectal tissue that was subsequently exposed to HIV in the laboratory, according to a new study by the UCLA AIDS Institute. The gel was also found to be safe and acceptable to users. 

Miscellaneous

U.S. Releases Plan for a Global AIDS-Free Generation   Speaking at the National Institutes of Health, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a new U.S. plan for attaining a global AIDS-free generation, according to a State Department statement. 

Ellen DeGeneres Named Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness   U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has named Ellen DeGeneres a Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness, according to a State Department statement. 

20 Years After Magic Johnson Disclosed He Was HIV Positive   Monday, November 7, marks the 20th anniversary of Earvin 'Magic' Johnson's public disclosure of his HIV-positive status, The New York Times reports.

HHS Identifies HIV as a Critical Health Priority for U.S.   The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has identified HIV as a critical health priority for the nation, AIDS.gov reports.