Gary's Blog

HIV Criminalization

2012-01-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

In May 2008, a homeless, HIV+ man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for assaulting a police officer with a "deadly weapon, his saliva! Willie Campbell, who was clearly intoxicated at the time, has been HIV+ since 1994 and has a history of aggressive behavior with public servants, will have to serve at least 17.5 years to be eligible for parole. The police officers were not infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), although there have been a few rare cases of transmission through severe bites, “contact with saliva, tears or sweat has never been shown to result in transmission of H.I.V.”

Thirty four states, 2 U.S. territories and numerous other countries (including Russia, Finland, Australia, England and 20 countries in Sub Saharan Africa) have HIV specific criminal statutes. Other U.S. States and some other countries have used non-HIV specific charges such as assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder. Many of these laws and prosecutions do not differentiate between whether an HIV+ person used a condom or even whether the virus was transmitted. All of this begs the question: Should we even be on this slippery slope?

Being HIV+ is not a crime. With the new developments in treatment, it is no longer a death sentence. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated that one of the most effective methods of prevention is aggressively treating individuals with HIV, thereby lowering their viral load so that they may be less infectious. Studies have also shown that people who know there status tend to behave more responsibly. Unfortunately, the CDC estimates that as many as 1 in 5 people who are HIV+ are unaware of their status. Therefore it is crucial that people know their HIV status.

I understand the fear and demagogory that has dogged the HIV epidemic. And, I am certainly not making the case for irresponsibility when it comes to having sex. I get it! But we have made significant gains in this country, not just in treatment, but in making HIV testing a routine part of medical care. The last thing that we need is to arm prosecuters with powerful laws to 'punish the victim,' eg... to lock away hundreds, if not thousands of HIV+ people to protect us from them. And what responsibility does the 'partner' have in all of this. Does a person have to be told that their potential partner is HIV+, before they will use a condom?

Unfortunately, this issue is much more complex that the time and space that I will currently give to it. Perhaps the greatest concern is that these laws, which were no doubt designed to prevent infection, will more likely have the opposite effect of scaring people away from getting tested. After all, what is to stop a scorned ex-lover from pressing charges, stating that they WERE NOT TOLD of their partner's HIV status. Haven't we learned that punitive action is not always the answer. In other words, in our efforts to prevent the spread of HIV, the shield is mightier than the sword.

AIDS Denialism

2012-01-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

Recently, someone named Curtis Cost wrote an article assailing the importance and validity of African Americans knowing their HIV status. Since the first widely reported cases in 1981, HIV has been mired in controversies, ranging from its origin to the possible existence of a cure. Sadly, over thirty years later, we continue to have many of the same conversations. What should NOT be in doubt any longer is that HIV disease is having a devastating impact on the African American community. Although African Americans represented only 14% of the US population in 2009, we accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections in that year. Overall, African Americans account for a higher proportion of HIV infections at all stages of disease—from new infections to death, than any other racial of ethnic group. Moreover, as many as 21% of people living with HIV are unaware of their status and, consequently cause up to 70% of the new infections. So why then, would Mr. Cost write such an impassioned plea for African Americans to NOT get tested for HIV? In short, we refer to people like Mr. Cost as AIDS Denialists. AIDS Denialists represent individuals or groups who deny that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the cause of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). While the link between HIV and AIDS has long been established in the scientific community, AIDS Denialists continue to dismiss HIV as a harmless passenger virus and assign the cause of AIDS to anything from malnutrition to the drugs used to treat it. Now, before you dismiss the Denialists as just foolish or uninformed, let me remind you about Thabo Mbeki, the former President of South Africa and once a poster child for AIDS Denialism. By some estimates, his alleged 'fiddling while Rome was burning' may have led to as many as 330,000 AIDS deaths as well as almost over 200,00 new HIV infections.

The greatest weapon against AIDS Denialists is knowledge, ours. AIDS Denialists prey on our own cynicism, ignorance and, yes, our denial. It always amazes me how willing we are to jump on the bandwagon of someone offering very little in the way of proof and disavow decades of scientific evidence. Healthy skepticism can be a good thing. However, use that cynicism to motivate yourselves to seek more information. In other words, do your own homework!

Can Certain Contraceptives Increase HIV risk?

2011-10-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

I can imagine that those who try to remain current with new developments in contraception and HIV risk reduction may cringe at discovering that something else might place them at increased risk of HIV infection. This time, that something else may be a popular form of contraception, injectable hormones. Injectable hormones, such as the well-known Depo-Provera, are one of the easiest, most cost effective contraception alternatives because they are long lasting, easily administered and and gives women more control over the timing of their pregnancies. Unfortunately, they do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infection. Now, a recent study published in Lancet on October 3, 2011, raises concern that their role in HIV infection might be even more problematic. Researchers from the University of Washington followed almost 4,000 couples for two years in Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In each couple, either the man or the woman was already infected with HIV.

The study found that women using hormonal contraception became infected at a rate of almost twice as high compared with those not using that method. Transmission of HIV to men also occurred at a rate almost double from women using hormonal contraception than for those who did not. Two other major ones have also demonstrated increased risk of HIV through the use of injectable contraceptives.

It is not entirely clear why this may be happening. The Progestin in injectable contraceptives may have a physiological effect, such as immunologic changes in the vagina and cervix. Moreover, researchers found more HIV in the vaginal fluid of those using hormonal contraception than those who did not. This might help to explain why men might have increased risk of infection from hormonal contraceptive users.

While the results of this study may be quite sobering, especially to those who use injectible hormonal contraceptives, it is just as important that we remember that for most, HIV risk reduction still remains firmly within our control and underscores the importance of not just knowing one's own HIV status, but that of our partners.

Treatment is Prevention Part 1

2011-08-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be aware that the annual HIV Prevention conference has been taking place in Atlanta this week. One of the unique aspects of HIV conferences is that they tend to bring together an eclectic mix of people: consumers, researchers, medical providers, non profits and other assorted advocates. As we, as a society, struggle with finding new and creative ways to reduce the transmission of HIV, it was only natural to consider the impact a medical model might have on this challenge. Perhaps one of the most exciting studies within the last several months demonstrates the benefit of immediate, aggressive HIV treatment in reducing transmission.

Historically, HIV prevention targeted those who were negative. Eventually, more emphasis was placed on "Prevention for Postives," which focused primarily on changing the potentially risky behavior of people who are HIV+. However the promising results of a study, known as HPTN 052,that evaluated whether the immediate use of HAART (Highly Active Anti-retroviral therapy) by HIV-infected individuals would reduce transmission of HIV to their HIV-uninfected partners (which would also potentially benefit the HIV-infected individual), demonstrates the increased role of medical treatmet in prevention. The results of the study were truly groundbreaking: there was a 96 percent reduction in risk of HIV transmission to the HIV-uninfected sexual partners.

The results of this study underscores previous efforts to test as many people as possible by making HIV a routine part of medical care as well as aggressive community mobilization by showing that if we can get HIV+ individuals into care and keep them there, it may reduce overall HIV incidence and save lives. Put another way, this study adds another needed weapon to our arsenal as we continue to make progress if our war against this formidable, entrenched enemy: HIV.

HIV at 30

2011-07-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

For the two or three of you (lol) who follow my blog, you may have noticed that I haven't blogged in a while. A lot has happened to me over the last several months that I won't get into now. However, I have returned with a renewed sense of purpose and quite a lot to say.

Much has been written about the 30th anniversary of HIV. I plan to write throughout the year on this topic. It is long and complex area and I cannot begin to do it justice in one or two blogs. So hear I go......

My blog today will be more in the form of a rant. It comes on the heels of a recent radio show on which I appeared. During the show, I experienced a sense of déjà vu; that the conversation I was engaged in has happened before. After 30 years, I was answering many of the same questions, the same way:

* Why are the rates so high in the African Americans so high?
* Whay aren't the churches more involved?
* Why do so many African Americans have conspiracy theories?
* Isn't Magic Johnson cured?
* Why is the stigma so great?
* Isn't AIDS a gay disease occurred to me?

After 30 years, with so many ways to access the information, why hasn't it sunken in? Moreover, this 'HIV illiteracy' does not seemed to be impacted by SES (socio-economic status) I have had the same conversations with people ranging from 6th grade reading levels to doctorates.

Certainly the glass isn't completely empty. We have made strides. There is finally a National HIV strategy. Many cities have instituted robust social marketing and testing intitiatives. And, some faith-based institutions have become involved. But, as I have these daily conversations and watch the rates continue to rise, it still seems apparent that it just hasn't sunken in enough. Without our most important asset, knowledge, we still have a long way to go.

2010- a Year of Promise

2010-11-23T14:09:00.000-08:00

For so many years, the news about efforts to combat HIV/AIDS has been, in a word, depressing. It seemed that with every positive development would come news of escalating infection rates, or that some promising vaccine or therapy was less promising than we had hoped. But 2010 will be remembered as one of the first years where there seems to be almost universal optimism that real progress is being made in this war.

Perhaps the most optimistic front has been in the area of science. During this year, we have been uplifted with promising results of studies raging from the possible efficacy of microbicides, to the potential of gene therapy. At the International AIDS Conference, one of the major themes throughout the event was that effective HIV treatment IS prevention i.e., that reducing viral load may be an effective tool in reducing infection rates. Moreover, for many years, the idea of a pill that could prevent HIV infection was almost universally derided. Yet with the recent announcement of the National Institutes for Health study of pre –exposure prophylaxis in MSM, we now may have another tool to reduce infection rates in individuals at greatest risk.

Not all of the positive news has just been in the field of science. Thanks to President Barack Obama, the United States has its first National HIV/AIDS Strategy with an extra 30 million dollars added for HIV prevention (and 25 million for the struggling ADAP program). Moreover, with the reopening of the National AIDS Policy Office, the approval of needle exchange, the elimination of the travel ban for people with HIV and most importantly, the passing of the Affordable Care Act, the United States has finally taken a broad, visible leadership role in fighting this epidemic.

So while there is undoubtedly good news, there also remain challenges. Less than half of the individuals needing HAART are receiving it. Moreover, the global recession has caused historic belt tightening throughout the world. In the United States, many states and cities are either reducing or considering reduction in HIV/AIDS services. Even staunch HIV advocates are reflecting on the monumental task (not to mention the expense) of keeping tens of millions of HIV+ individuals alive with HAART indefinitely, a lifetime cost that a Cornell University study estimated at $600,000 per person.

So where do we go from here? Perhaps the greatest optimism during 2010 has been the belief from many HIV researchers that a cure may be on the horizon. There are several very promising areas of “cure” research with promising results. However, in this case, the ‘devil is not in the details,’ but in the dollars. In order to find a cure, whether a functional one that allows people to maintain an undetectable viral load without medication or an eradication cure, it will take a lot more money then is being expensed now. For example, the cost of researching and developing a single drug has been estimated at 500 million to 2 billion dollars.

The hundred dollar question is: will we demonstrate the commitment, through the economic resources and the will to revamp the infrastructure to facilitate cure and vaccine research, or will we keep looking around and hoping for some lucky, miraculous (and cheap) breakthrough? A wise man once coined the phrase to me that the history of AIDS is still being written. Let’s make this next chapter, 2011, the year where WE gave the bully a bloody nose.

Disturbing New Information on MSM and HIV

2010-10-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

One of the most frustrating aspects of working in HIV is addressing the many myths (as well as conspiracy theories) surrounding it-the most persistent of which is that AIDS is a "gay disease." Clearly this myth started early in the history of HIV in the U.S., yet has persisted despite clear evidence of how HIV is transmitted and the growing diversity of those whom become infected. Moreover, it has been convenient for many to affix the label of "gay" to anyone who has had sex with the same gender. However, a startling new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) may add additional fuel to that myth. A CDC study conducted in 21 cities tested over 8,000 gay and bisexual men participating in the 2008 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System.

The study found that almost one in five men having sex with men (MSM) was infected with HIV and that almost half of them did not know it. Black MSM were infected at a rate of 28%, as compared to 18% for Latino men and 16% for Caucasian MSM. Black MSM were even less likely to know their status than other races (59% were unaware) with young black MSM, a shocking 71% of which were unaware of their status. There was also a high co-morbidity with HIV status and socioeconomic variables-with HIV + status increasing as education and income decreased.

Studies such as these point to the glaring need for new creative strategies, not to mention social marketing approaches, to attract more and younger MSM to get tested. Moreover, despite all of the hoopla about '"men on the down low" as the culprit for rising infection rates with women, we cannot overlook the fact that many of the men in this study were bisexual and therefore, may have female partners. Previous studies have shown us that when someone knows their HIV status they are more likely to practice safer sex. Hopefully a renewed focus on HIV prevention targeting MSM may lead to a sorely need national dialogue revealing the diversity and complexity of the topic. Perhaps that discussion will help dispel the myth.

HIV may have been present for 32,000 years

2010-10-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

Despite the persistent myth that HIV was a man-made disease, unleashed upon the unsuspecting, disenfranchised of our society (read gays and blacks), now comes more evidence that it may have been present in monkeys and apes for a millennia. New research, published in Science magazine last month, report the presence of the ancestor of the simian HIV virus in Africa possibly dating back as far as 78,000 years. This fascinating research, that studied monkey species on a volcanic island off of the coast of West Africa, who developed in isolation, found that four of the six species had been infected with HIV.

Although this study may help to answer certain questions, such as why HIV infects most simian species, but doesn't kill them, it fails to answer the main one: how did a relatively benign monkey virus become one of the greatest health crises in the history of mankind. Many still believe that the human HIV epidemic was caused by, purposely or inadvertently, human meddling.

Evidence of the great age of HIV does point to the likelihood that, over centuries, the virus killed off weaker monkeys leaving behind those who became resistant to it. However, does that mean that it will take thousands of years before we are able to adapt naturally to HIV? Can we survive that long with rising rates, declining government support and the aggressive mutation of the virus?

Our obvious advantage is, of course, our technological superiority. We now have over 30 medications to treat HIV and many believe that a cure is still possible. However, by following the path of HIV and other diseases, it hopefully reminds us of our fragility and vulnerability as we continue, sometimes in the interest of capitalism and expansion, to invade more exotic and isolated lands and interact with previously unknown species.

Opt-Out and Eliminating Consent for HIV Testing

2010-09-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

President Obama's new AIDS Strategy calls for a renewed effort to reduce new HIV infections by 25%, increasing the number of people who know their status from 79% to 90%. Crucial to the success of this benchmark is to test more people for HIV. This is consistent with the Center for Disease Control's recent recommendations (in 2006) to encourage HIV testing to become a routine part of medical care. However, one of the more controversial aspects of this push is the distinction between 'opt -in' vs 'opt-out HIV testing. Opt-in testing generally refers to an opportunity for the patient to be asked, by a provider, if s/he would like to be tested for HIV. Opt-out testing means that a patient will be given an HIV test unless s/he chooses not to have one. The CDC has recommended opt-out testing as well as the elimination of written consent (a medical consent form that authorizes HIV testing).

As one might imagine, this is a pretty contentious topic, even among HIV advocates and medical providers. Supporters of opt -in testing and informed consent argue that people need to understand what they are being tested for and why. Moreover, they argue that eliminating written, or even verbal consent fails to address the reasons why so many people fail to be tested, at the expense of expediency. Ignorance, apathy, stigma and discrimination are still alive and well, they claim, and cannot be ignored. Opt-out testing proponents point to the growing members of people who do not know their HIV status, present for treatment in the latter stages of their disease and the glaring disparity of HIV among the poor and communities of color as evidence that the present system isn't working and that we need new strategies to address the soaring epidemic. They also minimize the impact of stigma and discrimination, due in part to the efforts to make HIV testing more routine.

Nowhere is this debate raging more than in New York City, which still hold the crown for the highest incidence of HIV of any US city. New York State requires written consent, but the current policy is being reexamined. So what is the right policy? One thing is clear: both sides seem to be focused on the same outcome, a reduction of HIV infection. Unfortunately, in an era of dwindling resources it is sad that there is not more consensus on this issue. What isn't clear if if the present policies around informed consent aren't working. There is evidence that many medical providers are not offering HIV testing to their patients, due in part to their discomfort with the subject. Moreover, there is evidence, some of which comes from New York itself that HIV testing is rising under the current rules.

I am concerned that if people are not given an opportunity for consent for HIV testing and to have the conversation that would likely take place with that medical provider, that much of the ignorance and misconceptions about HIV will remain. Moreover, if provider feel a conversation about HIV testing is uncomfortable, then how will they feel about giving someone a positive result? We clearly have a long way to go before our society sees HIV/AIDS as just a medical condition. Before eliminating informed consent, I feel that more training for medical providers, more and robust social marketing to reduce HIV stigma and a renewed emphasis to ensure that HIV testing is being offered in routine medical settings are more effective measures to increase HIV testing.

Day Five of the International AIDS Conference of 2010

2010-07-27T11:10:00.001-07:00

The conference is starting to wind down. From a personal and environmental perspective, you can feel the air slowly ‘leaving the balloon.’ The palpable energy level has dropped appreciably. Many of us are just overloaded. There is so much information being disseminated, as well as events, press conferences, and activities, many occurring concurrently, that it is physically impossible to attend but a fraction of it. One of my greatest regrets is that I haven’t had an opportunity to have any substantive conversations with my brothers and sisters from other counties. There has just been so little time. I have had the opportunity to speak with a couple of the gentlemen in my traveling party who work for organizations that have similar programs to my owe. I have found those conversations to be enlightening and helpful.

I had the opportunity to attend The Other City,’ Sheila Johnson’s independent film about HIV in Washington D.C. Suffice to say, because I don’t want to spoil the movie, it is well worth seeing and I am going to work hard to bring it to the Philadelphia area. After the movie, we have a brief discussion period which included some convention delegates from Africa and Haiti. While it certainly wasn’t the first time I heard it, they remarked at how surprised they were that HIV was a problem in the United States. Their perception of the U.S. is that we are wealthy and that the HIV epidemic is under control here. The real irony here is that most Americans, including many black Americans, feel the same way. I can’t keep track of the number of conversations I have had with American black folks who have told me that they didn’t think that HIV was a problem because they hardly hear about it. While I acknowledge that there is not enough HIV reporting, there is plenty of information available for those who seek it. So therein lies the problem, why don’t we want to know. Clearly, some of us don’t believe that we are at risk. Others still hold on to the myths (that it’s a gay disease) and conspiracy theories (that there is an actual cure). Still others find it depressing and feel that they already have enough to deal with.

So what do we do? How do we get black folks attention, especially with the next International HIV Conference in Washington D.C., looming? Think about it: What message do we want to take to that conference? Will it be that we are still dragging our feet and HIV in the US has worsened? Or will we begin to live up to the hype, the international image that we have HIV better managed and might actually be in a position to show other folks how to do it? I ran into actress Sheryl Lee Ralph here. She suggested a million person march on HIV. Hmmm, not a bad idea. Volunteers?

Goodbye from Vienna. This will be my last official Vienna blog, but please follow my blog, called unabashedly, ‘Gary’s Blog at www.bebashi.org and at The Body website (www.thebody.com).

Auf wiedersehen!

Day Four of the International AIDS Conference of 2010

2010-07-27T11:09:00.001-07:00

‘Charity begins at home.’ A cliché? Certainly! But with dwindling resources for everything and a raging HIV Epidemic in Black people in the United States, should we concentrate more of our efforts here? This question, which has created an ongoing tension for many HIV/AIDS advocates in the U. S., was the proverbial ‘elephant in the room during a breakfast meeting I attended with billionaire philanthropist Sheila Johnson this morning. Ms Johnson acknowledged coming to the same conclusion through her international work with CARE upon learning of the devastation that HIV was causing in Washington DC. For years, we (Black U.S. HIV advocates) have witnessed the constant flow of wealthy celebrities overseas, often to Africa, to attempt to make some small impact in the epidemic. We have struggled with the dichotomy of two virtual epidemics: one here ad the other overseas. If we are truly our brother’s keepers, how can we begrudge anyone helping our brothers and sisters in the ‘motherland?’ No one will discount the devastation of HIV in Africa.

As I travel throughout the conference and look into the many faces of its participants, it is clear that most, if not all, are very, very passionate about the impact of HIV in there respective countries and/or, for the constituents they represent: women, transgender, MSM (men having sex with men), sex workers, etc... Few seem to advocate for resources to be sent elsewhere. Therefore, is it selfish for those in the U.S. who have more resources and clearly have an edge in terms of access to life sustaining antiretroviral therapy, to place most of our emphasis on home? While no one would argue that we have more in the U.S., for black people, we clearly do not have enough. Moreover, we now recognize that HIV rates in some areas of the U.S.: parts of the rural south, the Bronx, North Philadelphia and of course Washington DC, rival countries in Sub Saharan Africa. Therefore, do we now have the justification to advocate more vociferously for more of our resources to remain at home? Did we ever need to ‘justification?’ And if we don’t advocate, what will the consequence be?

Well, ladies and gentleman, we are living the consequences of not just diverted resources, but our own ignorance and apathy. We have very little margin for error. While we certainly have no right to tell Oprah, or Alicia Keys how to spend their money, we can and we must continue to educate them and others (including those of more moderate means) that our own house is on fire and that if we run down the street to help our neighbors than we just might not have a home to come back to. It is a difficult conversation to have. But I’m ready. Let’s talk about it!

Goodbye from Vienna. Will be in touch tomorrow!

Day Three of the International AIDS Conference of 2010

2010-07-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

With yesterday’s release of the CDC’S report on the relationship between poverty, and another study on morbidity and mortality released by the University of California, Day three of the International AIDS Conference of 2010 began on a more somber note. To be blunt: It’s about Poverty, stupid. While the CDC’s report demonstrated a clear link between HIV infection and poverty in urban centers, the UC report focused on dramatically heightened mortality rates of ‘disadvantaged’ (read poor back folks) who have been linked to care and started on state of the art antiretroviral therapy-rates that were in excess of third world countries. None of the deceased patients ever received viral suppression, despite robust supportive and case management services to help them. In short, even getting low income minorities into care is, as Winston Churchill would say (and I paraphrase); ‘Is not the end, is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.’

Many of us have been impacted in many ways by the global financial recession. We probably know people who have lost their jobs or perhaps even their homes. We are all pinching pennies to make ends meet. But, no where may the effects of the recession be felt more greatly than in HIV prevention and care. Think about it: if we have more minorities falling into poverty, or becoming more entrenched in it, then we may see greater HIV infection rates in those urban areas where most of them (and us) live. Moreover, even if we link them into care, how will we ensure that they stay in care and take their medication? So many of us have become comfortable thinking about HIV disease as a chronic, manageable condition; much like diabetes. But we all know black folks, probably in our families, who have ‘sugar’ (what some of our seasoned citizens call diabetes) who slide up to the table and eat those greasy chicken wings or smack on that sweet potato pie. And we watch those same folks lose their vision, or even some toes, because of uncontrolled diabetes. However, with HIV, they may lose a lot more than some toes. Moreover, unlike most other ‘chronic conditions like diabetes, HIV is transmissible.

So the reality of my work, (which I am never unrealistic about), hit a little harder today. It also reminds me that the US National Strategy on HIV/AIDS will require unprecedented coordination and cooperation by not just HHS, the CDC and SAMSHA, but from other agencies that (should) focus on the poor such as HUD and the Departments of Labor and Education. With drop out rates of 50% in Philly and unemployment rates in the black community more than double the national rate’ we must do more to address poverty in order to have an impact on health disparities, especially with HIV.

Goodbye from Vienna. Will be in touch tomorrow!

Day two of the International AIDS Conference of 2010

2010-07-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Day two of the International AIDS Conference of 2010 began with a bang: an address at the opening plenary by former President Bill Clinton. As expected, it was standing room only. Prior to today, I had only gotten a glimpse of the sheer number of delegates present. However, it was at the Clinton address that I began to see just how many people are here. It is truly amazing-So many people of different hues, nationalities, and roles: physicians, researchers, representatives from government and non government entities and, of course, people living with the virus.

As you can imagine, the address from former President Clinton was thoughtful and moving. I was first struck by his knowledge of the issue (of HIV/AIDS). His address covered many areas. For example, he spoke of the work of his foundation in countries as varied as the Ukraine to Zambia. He also spoke about the progress being made especially in reducing mother to child transmission and in increasing the number of people living with HIV who receive life-sustaining medication. He challenged us to spend our limited HIV funds more smartly before we demanded more. He even acknowledged that, as President of the United States for 8 years, how he did not do enough about HIV/AIDS. However, being the politician that he is, his most controversial statements covered the direction that he believes we should take for activism. While acknowledging the rights of activists to protest whatever and whoever they choose, he also reminded those who have recently protested President Obama for his failure to fund PEPFAR at the level that he ‘promised,’ that his (Obama’s) commitment came long before the almost complete economic collapse of our country. I acknowledge that my respect for Bill Clinton had dwindled as a result of his tactics in campaigning for his wife Hillary against Obama. Therefore, I was even more pleased to hear his common sense defense of President Obama, Former President Clinton expressed that activism would be better served by putting more pressure on Congress to cooperate (yes, I used the words ‘Congress’ and ‘cooperate’ in the same sentence) with the Obama administration and to appropriate more funding.

This raises a very controversial topic: Just how much ‘slack’ should Obama receive. As the first Black president, Obama, unfortunately was given an extremely rotten hand to play: two long, expensive wars; financial instability; and a totally uncooperative Republican party, to name a few. Should we wait for some of the smoke to clear before we go on the attack? Does his successful push for more health care in the United States count for anything? At the heart of the matter is, do we really trust him? Can we trust any politician?

I believe that it is a delicate balancing act between maintaining consistent, but flexible pressure on all of the powers that be, including Obama, but at the same time ‘turning up the heat,’ as it were, on those who have historically opposed universal health care. Personally, I am grateful for the contributions thus far and in anticipation of those to come from these two great men: Clinton and Obama.

Goodbye from Vienna. Will be in touch tomorrow!

Day One of the International AIDS Conference of 2010

2010-07-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

Day One of the International AIDS Conference of 2010, but Day Three for me in Vienna, Austria. This is a time of ‘firsts’ for me. This is my first International AIDS Conference and my first time travelling to Europe . I am attending the conference as a delegate of BTAN, the Black AIDS Treatment Network of the Black AIDS Institute. My day job is as the Executive Director of BEBASHI- Transition to Hope; the first Black AIDS Services Organization in the country which is, this year, commemorating its 25th anniversary. I was honored to be chosen for this important job that will include a three year commitment and will involve creating a treatment advocate/education initiative in Philadelphia. It was a difficult trip. I am sure that veterans of international travel will understand, but I have certainly learned a few lessons. However, so far, it has been well worth it. When I told my collegues that I would be attending the conference and that it was in Europe, I was meant with virtually universal support. However, whenever I embark on a new endeavor or initiative, I have trained myself to ask a crucial question: What for? In other words, why an international AIDS conference when the focus of my career has been to help primarily minority people in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. To be blunt: how will learning more about HIV/AIDS around the world help poor black folks in Philly? It’s an important question but one that was easily answered in my first two days of meetings and presentations. While I expect this to be (and it has so far) been a life changing experience, I will summarize the main expectations in three ways:
1. Information: With eight days of meetings, presentations, poster sessions as well as informal conversations and networking, I have already begun to learn a great deal especially about new trends, interventions, etc... that I can utilize in my work in Philadelphia. For example, yesterday, I attended a special session facilitated by the Black AIDS Institute that featured some of the best minds in African American HIV/AIDS Treatment, Policy and Care, including Dr. Kevin Fenton of the Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Helene Gayle, of CARE and United States Representative Barbara Lee. Their words and careers have been an inspiration to me and I valued the opportunity not just to hear, but to meet them.
2. Context: Another program that I attended today was a meeting facilitated by the African and Black Diaspora Global Network on HIV and AIDS (ABDGN). Launched at the International AIDS conference in Toronto Canada in 2006, ABDGN's mission is to strengthen the response to emerging HIV/AIDS epidemics among African and black communities in the Diaspora. While I am certainly aware of the existence of black people in many countries around the world, this session, as well as the one sponsored the day before by the Black AIDS Institute, helped to remind me of the devastation of HIV, not just in Sub Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, but among other black people including those in Canada, Germany, France, England, etc… As a loooong term HIV/AIDS activist (since 1987), I and many like me have struggled to get our folks in the United States to recognize that while this is a global epidemic, that the United States is a part of that globe. Yet, we cannot lose sight of the fact that there are no walls around the United States and some of those very same people, my brothers and sisters from the Diaspora, may end up here. Moreover, we cannot allow others around the world to suffer because of the lack of information or access to treatment that is readily available to us. An International AIDS Conference helps to remind me of something that we actually have printed on one of BEBASHI’S T-Shirts: “One World, One Epidemic.”
3. Contribution: This final theme is one that hasn’t really happened yet and that is: What will my contribution be; both to this Conference and to my community. The final presentation of the day that I attended was on the United States National HIV/AIDS Strategy. There have been Strategic Plans, such as the one led By Dr, Helen Gayle when she was at the CDC, to cut the number of new HIV infections in half; yet there has never been a true United States Strategy. Without elaborating too much on the plan, it focuses on three primary goals: Reducing the number of new infections; increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS and; reducing HIV-related health disparities. Needless to say, even though developing the strategy was not an easy task, now comes the hard part: implementing it.

Goodbye from Vienna. Will be in touch tomorrow!

Does Pregnancy Pose an HIV Infection Risk for Men?

2010-05-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Previous studies have demonstrated that pregnant women are at greater risk of HIV infection. However, a new study, presented at the International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh in May seems to demonstrate that men have almost double the risk of HIV infection if their partner is pregnant and HIV+. The study, conducted in 7 countries in Africa, involved over 3,300 serodiscordant (one partner is HIV+ and the other is not) couples. Over two years and 800+ pregnancies it was demonstrated that pregnancy increased the risk of HIV infection for both males and females. The study reports that several factors other than pregnancy, such as sexual behavior, probably contributed to the increased risk for women. However, even when accounting for those factors and even circumcision, the heightened risk for men seemed much more direct. The researchers theorized that certain physiological and immunological changes that occur in a woman during pregnancy may be behind this remarkable finding. Therefore, further study to zero in on these changes is warranted. However, for those who may feel that pregnancy gives one a 'free pass' as far as the concern of the woman getting pregnant, this study demonstrates that it is even more imperative to use protection, especially if HIV status is unknown.

New Developments in HIV Eradication

2010-05-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

One of the most persistent myths about the HIV epidemic is that the government (or the other perceived villain- pharmaceutical companies) have discovered a cure but that, for whatever reasons, have not made it available. This reasoning fails to take into account the complexity of vaccine development in general, not to mention the unique challenge of curing HIV. One of the crucial steps to finding a cure involves eradicating all of the virus from the body. Complicating this are stubborn reservoirs of HIV that remain in the body and seem out of reach of antiretroviral medication. These reservoirs consist of old CD4 cells that preserve latent HIV throughout the body, essentially storing, or 'archiving' it for decades. Therefore, even though antiretroviral medication may significantly reduce viral reproduction and clear the host of most HIV virus, they never completely purge HIV from the body. When the medication is interrupted or ceases its effectiveness, because of viral resistance, this reservoir can become reactivated, ensuring more viral replication and eventually, more illness. Therefore, the inability to eradicate HIV from the body has been the main stumbling block towards finding a cure.

However, recent developments by Dr. Robert Siliciano of Johns Hopkins University has brought new hope that HIV eradication may be achievable. Dr. Siliciano believe that there are two reservoirs of old (or latent) HIV, one that consists of what are called CD4 memory cells. These cells are created to combat various infections that we have developed, such as measles. HIV meds are only effective against cells infected with HIV that are active. However, activating all memory cells simultaneously can be dangerous. Therefore, the goal is to activate only those cells that are infected with HIV, so that the HIV meds can, in effect, take them out. Dr. Siliciano and group have found a handful of compounds that they believe may selectively activate HIV infected cells. The trick will be finding compounds that will be safe in humans.

Sound complicated? Well this is just a small glimpse of the work being done all over the world to either create a vaccine for HIV, or to find a cure. However, as this brief snapshot demonstrates, it is a very difficult, frustrating and costly endeavor. Therefore, we should be more appreciative of the efforts of researchers such as Dr. Siliciano and his colleagues or Michael Swanson, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan and his group who have discovered a lectin (naturally occurring chemicals in plants that bind to sugars on the surface of disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses) found in bananas, that might lead to the development of inexpensive microbicides to prevent HIV transmission or even new treatments.

In the meantime, while these dedicated researchers wage their own battle in laboratories around the world, we to must do out part to reduce HIV infection: Prevention.

A New Super Villain: Gonorrhea?

2010-04-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

We used to call it venereal disease. Many preferred the more common term: "The Clap." Eventually, a more appropriate term evolved: sexually transmitted disease. Recently, the term "disease" has been exchanged for "infection." Whatever name it was called, we all knew that Gonorrhea, while embarrassing and painful, was also curable. In other words, many felt that is was just a minor inconvenience.

Now comes new information that a strain of Gonorrhea may be evolving into a "superbug," a drug resistant bacteria that will be much harder to treat. Speaking at the Society for General Microbiology’s spring meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, Catherine Ison, a microbiologist with the Health Protection Agency in London, reported that the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae has become multi-drug resistant and threatens to make the STI more and more difficult to treat. Gonorrhea infects approximately 700,000 Americans a year, with the highest infection rates in the U.S. among teens, young adults and African Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gonorrhea can infect the eyes, throat and mouth as well as male and female genital areas. For decades it has commonly been treated with first tier antibiotics such as Penicillin. Now, even newer medications such as ceftriaxone and cefixime may be becoming less effective. According to Dr. Ison, "choosing an effective antibiotic can be a challenge because the organism that causes gonorrhea is very versatile and develops resistance to antibiotics very quickly."

Multi drug resistance is not a new phenomenon. We have struggled with it for years in HIV treatment, as well as in treatment a variety of infections such as Staph, MRSA, and Campylobacter Bacteria (one of the most common causes of diarrheal illnesses in humans). One potential culprit to this phenomenon is the increase of antibiotic use in farm animals. Recently, "major increases in antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in human populations have led to public health concerns regarding antibiotic use for non therapeutic purposes (i.e., not used to treat disease) in animals destined for food production," according to a statement by the Pew Charitable Trusts. "Bacteria are able to develop antibiotic resistance when exposed to low doses of drugs over long periods of time. To promote growth and weight gain, entire herds or flocks of farm animals are routinely fed antibiotics and related drugs at low levels in their feed or water — a practice that has been identified as a major contributor to antibiotic resistance."

Gonorrhea is often asymptomatic in women and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection with symptoms such as painful urination and vaginal discharge. Men may experience a burning sensation when urinating as well as painful or swollen testicles. Untreated gonorrhea can cause infertility in both sexes, join infection and, when passed by a pregnant woman to her fetus, blindness and a life-threatening blood infection in babies. Moreover, sexually transmitted disease can make one more vulnerable to HIV infection.

Yet, as with most sexually transmitted infections, Gonorrhea is 100% preventable. The answer is not rocket science. It's about making better choices, knowing one's partner, getting screened for STI'S and good old fashioned safe (abstinence) and safer (condoms, dental dams, etc) sex.

African American Women and STI'S

2010-03-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

Recent news has not been kind about women and girls of color and their sexual health. In 2008, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study reported that almost one-half of adolescent black females were infected with at least on STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection). Now, new evidence has further documented the impact of STI'S on women and girls of color. According to the CDC, 48 percent of black women between ages 14 and 49 have the virus which causes genital herpes. Blacks in general are more than three times as likely as whites to have herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (39.2 percent vs. 12.3 percent). Biological factors make women more susceptible to genital herpes than men. American women in general are nearly twice as likely as men to be infected (21 percent vs. 11 percent). Moreover, up to 80 percent of genital herpes infections in the United States are undiagnosed.

The news is no better on the local front. A recent report from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health revealed a dramatic 238% increase in primary and secondary cases of Syphilis in females. Many of the cases in females occurred in adolescents and young adults aged 15-24 years old.

The high rates of genital herpes infections and syphilis, as well as other STI'S among women of color, may contribute toward the high rate of HIV in the black community by making transmission easier. In 2007, more than 25% people infected with HIV in the United States were among women and girls aged 13 years and older. More than 278,000 women and adolescent girls in this country are living with HIV. For female adults and adolescents, the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses for black females was nearly 20 times as high as the rate for white females and nearly 4 times as high as the rate for Hispanic/Latino females.

Last year, the CDC implemented new guidelines to encourage HIV testing to be a part of routine medical care. Clearly, sexually transmitted infection screening should also be a part of this routine care. Significant progress in reducing the spread of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa has been made by preventing, diagnosing and treating STI's. It's time we apply these priorities in this country, especially in women and girls of color.

Don't Believe the Hype

2010-01-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

I recently ended a very frustrating e-mail correspondence with a well meaning, yet uninformed woman who originally contacted me to sing the praises of a herbalist who she claims has cured HIV (and lupus and cancer, by the way). In response to my polite skepticism, she directed me to his website where the "documentation" of his alleged success (and no doubt the pictures from his Nobel prize for medicine) could be found. Needless to say, I found no concrete evidence that his treatments cured anything, let alone HIV. Most troubling was her insistence that his claims were "proven." It reminds me of another conversation with a gentleman who read a book written by a dietitian who claimed that he had evidence that there was no link between HIV and AIDS. Supporting his claim were 1500 people who placed their name in the book indicating support of this theory. Not one, of course, held any reputable position at any research institution or university.

Those of us who have worked in the HIV/AIDS field have experienced communication with people who are convinced that there is a cure for HIV and that either:
1. The Government has it and wants "black people to die so they are hiding it or;
2. The Pharmaceutical companies have it but want people to keep spending money on
medication or;
3. Some other individual (usually an alternative medicine professional) has it but
the government and pharmaceutical companies have banded together to stop it
from being distributed.

We call these beliefs: "Conspiracy Theories." The troubling thing about these theories is less that a few individuals will submit to an unproven treatment and possibly have there hopes dashed, but that many of us are so willing to believe in theories and claims with so little basis in fact. Moreover, there cynicism makes HIV prevention efforts that much harder.

I pray that, one day, a cure for HIV/AIDS is found. However, HIV is a very difficult viral adversary, perhaps one of the most difficult that we have every encountered. Many of the greatest minds in the world have been struggling, without success to find a vaccine or a cure. Maybe, one day, someone will find a natural substance or treatment that will cure HIV. But, shouldn't that individual be required to subject that treatment to the rigors of science to prove, not only that it works, but that it doesn't harm the patient? Don't get me wrong, I believe that we should should not blindly believe everything we are told. Moreover, there are many non-medication treatments such as accupunture and light therapy (for Seasonal Affective Disorder)that work! Yet, why are we so willing to embrace treatments that have never fully been studied, but reject those with reams of documented evidence supporting them-not just for HIV, but for other conditions such as mental illnesses? Many cite the Tuskegee study as the underlying reason for this skeptisism, but many people to whom I speak, have never even heard of the Study. Clearly, the scientific and medical communities have a long way to go to regain the trust of the American Public. Until it does, we will continue to see people shun, and even reject modern medicine, often to our detriment.

World AIDS Day was on December 1, 2009- Did you notice?

2009-12-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

Each year, despite the ever growing AIDS epidemic, it seems that media coverage of World AIDS Day steadily decreases. Started on December 1, 1988, the objective of World AIDS Day has been to increase awareness about the AIDS epidemic, raise money and to help to dispel the myths, sterotypes and prejudices that continue to abound. The theme for this year's World AIDS Day theme was 'Universal Access and Human Rights'.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. In 2008, 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. Approximately one-half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.2

2008 also achieved another somber milestone: HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause for women internationally. Maybe its just me, but as HIV/AIDS becomes younger, darker and impacts more women, is there any coincidence that it falls further off of our radar screen.

Obama Lifts HIV Travel Ban

2009-11-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

On October 30, 2009, President Barack Obama announced that the United States would be doing away with its 20 year old ban preventing people living with HIV/AIDS from entering the country. The U.S. has been one of about a dozen countries that bar HIV+ travelers. The change will officially take place starting January 1, 2010, after a 60day waiting period. The ban was established in 1987 when there was widespread fear and ignorance about HIV. The federal government's tried to eliminate the ban in 1991, but was thwarted by Congress. In 1993, Congress made HIV infection the only medical condition specifically listed as ground for inadmissibility to the U.S.

While many may feel that such a law protected Americans from HIV infection from immigrants and travelers, there has been no evidence that it has done so. In reality, HIV rates continue to soar, especially among the poor and minorities. The law also had other adverse consequences by keeping out hundreds of thousands of tourists, refugees and students. Another impact of the law was the unforseen obstacle that it created for the international adoption of children with HIV. Moreover, no major international HIV/AIDS conference has been held in the U.S. since 1993, because HIV-positive activists and researchers were not allowed to enter the country.

The elimination of this law is another example of how the Obama Administration may have begun to turn the corner pertaining to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, there is still a long way to go.

New HIV Vaccine Shows Promising Results

2009-10-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Researchers and HIV/AIDS activists are have been encouraged by the results of an experimental HIV vaccine. According to a Wall Street Journal/Associated Press report: "For the first time, an experimental vaccine has prevented infection with the AIDS virus." The vaccine reduced the risk of HIV infection by more than 31%. While this result may not seem overwhelming, it is a significant moment in the often frustrating race to find a vaccine for HIV. Previous efforts have resulted in failure after failure. One such effort, Merck's experimental Phase II vaccine trial which began in late 2004 and involved HIV-negative volunteers was stopped after the experimental vaccine failed to prevent HIV infection in participants or prove effective in delaying the progression of the virus to AIDS. As a result, several vaccine trials were being postponed or modified following the abrupt halt of Merck's vaccine trial. As a result of so many recent failures, many researchers had begun to feel that a vaccine might not be possible and that resources should be redirected to new techniques to prevent HIV infection such as microbicides and cheaper versions of the female condom.

However this new HIV vaccine trail, involving 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, might just provide new hope. The new vaccine combined two previously ineffective ones: the first to rouse the immune system to launch an attack on the virus and the other to strengthen the response. Researchers caution that we are still a long way away from implementation of widespread immunization of any type of vaccine. However, for the first time, scientists and epidemiologists are expressing optimism that a HIV vaccine is possible.

Every day, 7,500 people world-wide are newly infected with HIV and two million died of AIDS in 2007 , according to the U.N. agency UNAIDS.

Demonizing HIV

2009-09-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

AIDS activists have been buzzing lately about a new German HIV awareness advertisement depicting a woman having sex with Adolph Hitler. By now, I am sure you are wondering: what does the Fuhrer have to do with AIDS? Well, in the ad, which is available online, a heterosexual couple is seen having sex. The man's face becomes that of Adolph Hitler followed by a slogan describing AIDS as a "mass murderer. Print versions of the campaign also use Saddam Hussein as well as other despots.
The company that created the campaign, Das Comitee, defended the advertisement stating that it was meant to show "the ugliness of the illness."

I understand the philosophy of using 'shock value' to get people's attention. Its discomforting to realize that in 2009, we have to 'shock' people to make them aware of HIV/AIDS. However, the designers of this campaign are obviously missing something and it underscores the danger of developing public awareness campaigns in a vacuum-with vetting them with a diverse audience, especially people living with HIV. Now, I don't know for sure if that was done. However, given the tremendous stigma associated with HIV, I would hope that someone would have realized that many people viewing the ad would associate the people living with HIV with these dictators. Despite good intentions, it's the wrong message!

HIV Testing

2009-08-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Few would argue that HIV testing is one of the most vital tools in addressing the HIV epidemic. But, does everyone feel that way, or even understand the significance of knowing his/her HIV status. A recent study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (June 2009) found that despite efforts to encourage more HIV testing, including making it a part of routine medical care, "reported rates of HIV testing have remained flat over time." In fact, the share of non-elderly (ages 13-64) who report having been tested within the last year has not changed in over a decade. Although some groups, such as African Americans, Latinos and young adults are more likely to report having been tested, even their rates have remained virtually unchanged over the last several years. In 2009, less than one-half of the adults in the United States say that they have ever been tested.

Another study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (Morbidity and Mortality Report-June 27, 2009) suggests that many people do not submit to HIV testing until late into the course of their infection. In the study, 45% of the testers progressed to a full blown AIDS diagnosis within 3 years of their positive HIV test. More troubling is that over a third (38%) progressed to full blown AIDS within a year. Moreover, minorities, especially African American men, were more likely to progress to full blown AIDS within 3 years of HIV diagnosis, e.g... were late testers.

The moral of the story, get tested: even if you do not think you are at risk. Too many people are apparently waiting until they get sick to get an HIV test. Consequently, they are giving HIV a head start and limiting the possibilities for successful treatment. HIV may be becoming a chronic disease, but the quality of life may be significantly improved by early testing and treatment. So, what are you waiting for?

Zoonoses

2009-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Confused? I had not heard of that word either, until I did a little research for this blog about animal to human disease transmission. Zoonoses are emerging infectious diseases that have transferred to humans from animal hosts. I embarked on this research after learning of the discovery of a new HIV strain thought to have originated from gorillas native to Cameroon. This makes the fourth documented strain of HIV: strain "M, the most common and "N," "O" and now "P." The latter three seem to manifest themselves primarily from the Cameroon region.

With so much evidence available that HIV is a Zoonose; ie..., that it originated from an animal host, in this case, chimpanzees, then why do so many people still believe that the HIV epidemic is a government conspiracy or some equally paranoid theory. In fact, most of the temperate diseases (found in temperate of tropical climates) such as measles, mumps, rubella, smallpox, influenza A and tuberculosis, are believed to have come from domestic animals. Moreover, most of the major infectious diseases also originated in animals: West Nile, Mad Cow, Cholera, Syphilis, Malaria, Ebola, Lyme Disease, Hantavirus, SARS, Swine Flu.

Clearly we need a little science lesson. Its time to jettison the conspiracy theories and understand that WE, our behavior, our ignorance, our intolerance and our apathy pose our greatest risk for HIV infection, not a government test tube!

Men are Driving The HIV Epidemic

2009-07-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

That's right, I said it: its men who are driving this epidemic. For all of the talk about the disproportionate impact of HIV on minority women, who do we think are infecting them: men. By the way, the fastest growing population being infected with HIV is not women; its young black men who have sex with men (MSM) between the ages of 13-29. Overall, there are 30,000 new HIV infections annually among MSM. Now before you go into the "AIDS is a gay disease mode," we must remember that gay and bisexual men probably make up a small percentage of men overall. We have to stop focusing so much on labeling people: "gay," "straight," "down-low," etc.. Many people are resistant to accepting certain labels. A man who primarily has sex with women but occasionally also has sex with men, may consider himself straight. Likewise, the incarcerated man who see his sex with another man in prison, a partner who by the way, may be officially labeled in the prison as a "b***h," therefore making it more socially acceptable. The focus has to be on responsibility such as: knowing one's HIV status; prompt diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and last but not least; safe and safer sex. So for the men reading this, the 'ball's in your court.' Man-up!

Adolescent Hopelessness and HIV

2009-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

A new report published in Healthday News on Jun 29, 2009, has found that almost 15 percent of American adolescents believe that they will die before age 35, a belief that may be strongly linked to unsafe behavior. Greater than one in seven youths have a pessimistic view about their future mortality and are more likely to take risks. The findings, published in the July issue of Pediatrics, are based on a three-year study of attitudes and behaviors among 20,594 teens from the 7th through 12th grades. The teens were asked about their views on personal mortality as it related to behaviors such as attempting suicide, using illegal drugs, sustaining fight-related injuries that required medical care, engaging in unprotected sex, being arrested by the police and contracting HIV or AIDS. Other important findings included:
*Race and wealth were important variables. While 10 percent of
white teens expressed this pessimism, 21 percent of Hispanic teens and 26
percent of African American youth harbored this fatalistic view.
*Adolescents who predicted a short lifespan were more likely to engage in risky
behavior, and teens who engaged in risky behavior (throughout the first year of the
study) "were more likely to develop a pessimistic view of their future."

Clearly, more needs to be done to both assess these attitudes early on, especially for minority and low income children, and to make every effort to develop programs that help to instill a sense of optimism and hope. Without this new focus, we will continue to raise a generation of children who feel that "they have nothing to lose."

Obama and HIV

2009-06-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

As with most things its a good news, bad news scenario. Clearly, Obama is more in tune with the AIDS epidemic than his predecessor. He has proposed a budget increase for domestic HIV prevention and direct services. Moreover, his administration will soon launch Act on AIDS, an ambitious 5 year social marketing campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and encourage people to get tested. Sadly, however, his 2010 budget cuts funding to fight AIDS globally, cuts funding for federal AIDS housing, and fails to lift the federal ban on syringe exchange.

What people, including AIDS activists, need to realize is that he is playing with a shaky hand. Our nation is mired in the deepest recession in years, he is constantly under siege by the Republican party and he is trying desperately to hold onto a shaky coalition of "Blue Democrats," ie.. conservative Representatives from formerly Republican controlled states. He also has very ambitious plans for climate control and health care. So the question is: what are our expectations? I too, am a little disappointed but, I understand that he has to pick his battles right now.

Will the recession increase HIV infection?

2009-06-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

The answer is, probably. We all know that one of the first casualties of economic down times are programs that help those in the most need. Its hard enough to make ends meet when there is less money and rising prices. People who were living check to check can find themselves out on the street if that check stops coming. Now comes word that two states with the highest numbers of persons living with HIV/AIDS, California and Pennsylvania, may be making significant cuts in vital HIV prevention and direct care services. The Governator (Arnold Swarzenegger) is proposing 55.5 million in funding cuts to HIV prevention, education and treatment programs. The Republican version of the state budget proposes to cut PA State AIDS Programs by 25%. Sadly, some of the proposed cuts could jeopardize federal matching funds, further spreading the pain.

It s not to late to send a message to state government legislators that cutting HIV/AIDS funding as well as other services to the poor and disabled in the midst of a surging epidemic is penny wise and pound foolish and will only exacerbate the problem.

2009-05-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

A new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation recently reported that, less than a year after the CDC revised their HIV statistics to reflect that the U.S. HIV epidemic is much larger than previously reported, the public’s sense of urgency is unexpectedly low. Some of the key findings were:

Only six percent of American felt that HIV was the most urgent health problem facing the nation. Only 40% of African Americans and 35% of Latinos see it as a "more urgent" problem now than in 2006.
Over one-half (51%) of the public says they would be uncomfortable having their food prepared by someone who is HIV positive.
One-third (34%) of Americans incorrectly believe or are unsure whether HIV can be transmitted by one of the following actions: sharing a drinking glass (27%), touching a toilet seat (17%), or swimming in a pool with an HIV positive person (14%).
Nearly one in five (18%) do not know there is no cure for AIDS and about one-quarter (27%) believe or are unsure whether former professional basketball player Magic Johnson has been cured of AIDS. Moreover, many misconceptions are more common in the African American community: 37% of African Americans thinks that Magic Johnson has been cured or are unsure; 36% believe that there is a vaccine available to prevent infection and; 30% believe that there are drugs available that can cure HIV and AIDS.

I am speechless. Its hard to believe after of this all of this time that we still have so many people who are so uninformed.

Obama launches new HIV/AIDS Awareness campaign

2009-04-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today the White House announced a new initiative through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch a $45 million campaign to raise awareness on AIDS, an issue the President has spoken passionately about for years. This is the first federally funded national domestic HIV/AIDS campaign in almost twenty years. It appears that the program will especially target the African American community. The first phase will encourage people to be tested for HIV. Stay tuned!

Hey Pope, Can I have a moment with you...

2009-03-19T14:52:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI recently stated that condoms are not the answer to the AIDS epidemic in Africa and can make the problem worse. His comments have set off a firestorm among, even many Catholic clergy who have dedicated their lives to helping people living with HIV around the world. I understand the Catholic Church's positions on fidelity and its overall teaching against artificial contraception. However, to state that condoms actually worsen the problem is going too far. Leaders, like Pope Benedict, what they say. the AIDS epidemic is no ordinary health problem and it will take extraordinary efforts to win this battle. Here's hoping that the Pope wakes up and chooses his words more carefully.

2009-03-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

I just read a sobering story about the first person to be convicted in Idaho of knowingly spreading the HIV virus. This gentlemen, a term which I use loosely, who has served two jail terms for the same offense, is now facing new charges for the same offense. A grand jury on Tuesday returned an indictment charging him with seven counts of knowingly transferring the HIV virus. He has already served two separate jail terms of 3 and 7 years respectively. I hope that they finally put this serial perpetrator away. However, lost in this story is the fact that people continue to have umprotected sex and place themselves at risk despite the publicity about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Know your HIV status, but also insist that your partners get tested as well.

The Power of Protest

2009-03-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

On February 12, 2009, organized by a Washington D.C. -based labor group called Change to Win, BEBASHI, CHOICE and a number of other organizations and individuals protested in front of the CVS store at Broad St. and Girard Avenue against their practice of locking up their condoms in the in targeted areas where mainly people in poverty reside and/or in predominately African American areas. While BEBASHI recognizes the right of retailers to display their merchandise as they see fit, they should also take into consideration the communities where they have chosen to place their stores. In this case, with HIV ravaging low-income communities, especially among the young, this policy, while probably designed to limit theft, also serves to discourage shoppers for buying condoms if they have to track down a busy store employee to find a key. As a result of the protest, CVS now displays some condoms in more convenient areas in more stores.

Who's infected and doesn't know it

2009-02-24T12:28:00.000-08:00

Recent data from the CDC provides more detail about the approximately 232,700 living in the U.S. living with HIV who do not know it:

Over 113,000 are African American
Men infected through heterosexual contact (male/female) were more likely to be undiagnosed that either MSM (male-male) or hetersexual women.
Almost half (47.8%) of the young people (ages 13-24) living with HIV were undiagnosed, a greater proportion than any other age group.

Clearly, HIV testing remains a essential tool to addressing the HIV epidemic. At least one quarter (1/4) to one-half (1/2) of all new HIV infections are transmitted by undiagnosed people. Studies show that most HIV diagnosed people make an effort to protect their partners. Moreover, early detection is a key to successful treatment.

Are you positive that you're negative (for HIV) ?

CONDOMnation I

2009-01-28T06:44:00.000-08:00

On December 11, 2008, an FDA advisory panel unanimously recommended the approval of the FC2, a new female condom. The FC2 would be 30% cheaper than the current version, even though male condoms are much less expensive. A cheaper female condom, if widely distributed, could prevent tens of thousands of HIV infections worldwide in part because it allows women to take the lead in protecting themselves. Nationally, the rate of AIDS diagnoses for black women was nearly 23 times the rate for white women and high-risk sexual contact was responsible for 74 percent of those infections. Lets hope that the FDA gets it right and approves the new female condom soon.

World AIDS Day

2008-12-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

World AIDS Day was December 1st. Maybe its just me but I heard very little about it this year-even less than last year. Have we become too complacent about HIV/AIDS? Or is it because it has become a condition that disproportionately affects people of color. I understand that the election and our struggling economy has taken the spotlight lately, but we can't spend one day to acknowledge perhaps the greatest health crisis of modern times?

Dumb and Dumberer

2008-10-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought that we had turned the corner about understanding HIV/AIDS in this country, two Minneapolis radio station talk hosts accused Magic Johnson of faking AIDS. Of course, the one question that they could not answer is: what would he gain faking AIDS and giving up a lucrative NBA career, exposing himself to the (inappropriate) ridicule of millions, not to mention the "he must be gay whispers." Ludicrous!

CDC Needs More $$$ to Fight HIV

2008-09-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

CDC officials on Tuesday at a House Government Reform and Oversight Committee hearing said they would need an additional $4.8 billion dollars over the next five years to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections in the U.S. As many of you may know, the CDC released a study last month that found that about 56,300 new HIV infections occur annually in the U.S.

Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, told the committee that although the additional amount of money requested is high, it could reduce the HIV transmission rate by 50% over 12 years. Although the $4.8 billion request is a significant amount of money, it would be more expensive not to treat HIV, Fauci said. Each HIV infection costs more than $1 million in treatment and lost productivity and that if CDC can prevent 4,800 new infections over five years, the programs established with increased funding would be "cost saving to society."

Now, how much is that Wall Street bailout again?

More on Conspiracy Theories

2008-09-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Recently, I met what appeared to be an educated, older African American gentleman at presentation that I was giving. After exchanging contact information, he literally tracked me down to communicate what he claimed was "very important information" that would be valuable to my (BEBASHI'S) clients. The 'information' pertained to a book and a website both claiming to dispute that HIV causes AIDS as well a virtually every other scientific fact about HIV/AIDS. He also gave me information about a product that supposedly cures HIV.

I understand that many of us are skeptical about what the federal government and big business, (such as pharmaceutical companies) tell us. Therefore, I looked into this information. I read excerpts from the book; looked at the credentials of of the person who wrote it as well as the other 1500 or so members of his group; and read the so-called study that described the "experiment" testing the drug. I came away with the following question:

Why are we so quick to believe people with these alternative theories about HIV/AIDS who lack infectious disease research/treatment experience, credentials and any real standing in the scientific community, when there are mountains of reputable research and decades of practical experience to the contrary. How could one so-called study, or one book diminish all of the other evidence?

The Risk of STI'S with Other Sexual Activities

2008-09-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

A new article by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published in the Journal: Obstetrics and Gynecology, reports that despite what many believe, "noncoital" sexual activities -- such as oral sex, mutual masturbation and anal sex still come with varying degrees of STI (sexually transmitted infection) risk.

Many people, especially adolescents, engage in oral, anal or mutual masterbation to reduce pregnancy risk, avoid using condoms thereby placing them at risk for acquiring an STI. In terms of HIV transmission, receptive anal sex carries the highest risk, followed by receptive vaginal sex. Therefore it is important to remember that anyone with whom one has sex, could potentially infect you with and STI, including HIV. Some of the ways to protect oneself are: Knowing one's partner-staying in a monogamous relationship and both of you getting tested for STI's before commencing sex; consistent and correct use of condoms for any kind of sex and; of course, abstinence.

Remember, not all STI's are curable and some are asymptomatic (meaning they do not have noticeable symptoms) So you might be infected and not even know it. Look before you leap!

Guess I can't complain too much, but...

2008-08-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama's speech last night to accept the Democratic nomination for President of the United States and to lay out his goals for his administration was almost everything that I could have expected. It was inspiring, emotional, challenging, historic, and I can go on and on. So should I be concerned that the greatest killer of people of African descent in history wasn't mentioned? Am I being nick-picky? Just because George Bush has made it a priority, should I have expected Barack to follow suit? After all, there are many other important issues that we face, as a country. Maybe I am biased, but I just feel that HIV/AIDS is one of them. I hope and pray that he makes it a priority of his administration after he gets elected.

Time for Barack to step up!

2008-08-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

With all of the hoopla surrounding Barack Obama's historic acceptance speech and taking into consideration how many troubling issues are plaguing this country, I can't help wondering: Will HIV make the cut? I recently read an article in Newsweek about "What Bush Got Right." One of the (few) things that he has received almost universal accolades for has been his leadership in funding HIV treatment in other countries. Bush made HIV one of his priorities in his administration. Can we expect Barack to do less? Stay tuned.

Where are we now?

2008-08-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

With the release of new statistics by the CDC revealing that the HIV epidemic in this country is worse than we thought, it seems like a good time to take a look at where are. The mood at the International HIV/AIDS conference was "much more sober compared with previous meetings. There were no "major breakthroughs" announced, and "cutting-edge research findings were rare."

Therefore, it doesn't seem as if the calvary is coming. We have to continue to fight HIV/AIDS the old fashioned way: Prevention. There is an old saying: everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die to get there. Everyone wants HIV/AIDS to just go away, but are we willing to change our behavior?

Homophobia and HIV

2008-08-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

In addition to my work at BEBASHI, I am also a psychotherapist. Recently, I treated a male African American adolescent who accepted that he was gay, but struggled with a lack of support from his family, who made him feel that Christianity was incompatible with homosexuality. In my career, I have spoken with many LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning) individuals, the majority of whom having experienced similar rejection, mistrust and even outright hostility from so-called "straight" people, many of who use religion as their justification. The recent International HIV Conference held in Mexico provided many examples of how our homophobia is harming our efforts to fight HIV. "Homophobia – whether propagated by government leaders, enforced by outdated laws, or perpetuated through stigma and discrimination – continues to fuel this epidemic, and should therefore be the number one enemy of those who are serious about ending this global tragedy," said Dr. Pedro Cahn, IAS President, AIDS 2008 Co-Chair and President of Fundación Huésped in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I am often asked whether I am uncomfortable being around LGBTQ individuals. The answer is no-because, I am comfortable with myself. The Bible teaches us to love thy neighbor as thyself. How many people have to die from HIV/AIDS or from hate crimes; how many young men and women have to be scarred for life, sometimes literally kicked out of their homes, before we realize that hate of any kind, for any reason, is just wrong.

Why Not Female Condoms?

2008-08-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Studies have repeatedly shown that although female condoms are widely accepted and that many women prefer them to male condoms, policy makers often fail to promote and invest in their use. The result has been the limited us of a powerful weapon to help fight HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. According to an Oxfam report presented Thursday at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, titled "Failing Women, Withholding Protection," there are about three billion male condoms sold worldwide annually, compared with about 26 million female condoms.

Part of the problem is that female condoms are much more expensive than male condoms. However, why couldn't governments or businesses get together to develop a lower cost version. Or, what about governments using there considerable economic and political power to force manufacturers to lower their prices by offering to buy large quantities in bulk. Either way, this is another area crying out for real leadership.

Teens and HIV

2008-08-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

HIV/AIDS is impacting our youth at an alarming rate. Although African Americans represent only 16 percent of U.S. teens, they represented 69 percent of all new AIDS cases reported among teens in 2005. Dr. Helen Gayle, president of CARE, said, "There is a lack of youth tailored prevention programs that relate to the youth culture." More teens are sexually active than even their parents want to admit. According to the 2007 CDC'S Youth Risk Behavioral Survey 66.5 percent of high school students have engaged in sexual intercourse. The survey also reports that 16.3 percent of teens had sex before the age of 13.

The United States has received a fair amount of criticism for pushing its abstinence-only program, even though most studies question its effectiveness. What many fail to realize is that all HIV prevention education programs includes abstinence information. While I agree that sexual health education should start at home, unfortunately, and especially with for the kids most at risk, it ain't happening. Many of the children most at risk live in chaotic situations where survival takes precedence. It's time that we stop pontificating and start demanding more funding for youth-oriented sexual health prevention programs.

Presidential Candidates Respond to the New HIV Statistics

2008-08-05T09:47:00.001-07:00

Not sure if you noticed that the two major presidential candidates have now weighed in on the CDC'S recent release of revised HIV statistics. As one might imagine, their responses reflects the considerable differences in their policy positions. John McCain's response seemed to be textbook political-speak. Basically he pledged to work with different "stakeholders" to continue the fight about HIV/AIDS. No specifics. His reference to it as a "dreaded disease" sounds very 20th century. To his credit, Obama on the other hand, pledges to develop a "national strategy." He speaks of confronting the stigma associated with HIV that is "too often tied to homophobia." Clearly either he, or his policy people are much better versed in HIV policy.

Stay tuned

CDC Releases New HIV Data

2008-08-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

On Saturday August 2, 2008, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finally acknowledged that it has been underreporting its data on HIV infections. This comes as no surprise to most HIV/AIDS advocates who have expressed concern about their annual estimates of approximately 40,000 new infections. The data shows that in 2006, an estimated 56,300 new HIV infections occurred – a number that is substantially higher than the previous estimate of 40,000 annual new infections, with estimates ranging between 55,000 and 58,500 during the three most recent time periods analyzed. The new estimates show that gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities and African American men and women are the groups most affected by HIV. African Americans, while comprising 13% of the US population, accounted for 45% of the new HIV infections in 2006. Other key statistics in the report state:

That new infections among blacks are at a higher level than any other racial or ethnic group, with a rate that is seven (7) times the rate of whites.
More infections incurred among people under the age of 30 (34%) than any other age group.
One quarter (25%) of HIV-infected persons are unaware of their HIV infection. These individuals account for one-half (50%) of all new infections.
Male to male sexual contact (MSM) accounted for 53% of the new infections.

Unfortunately the report does not go into detail about the impact on women of color, even though it is clear that minority, especially young minority, women have been severely impacted.

Still a long way to go...

2008-07-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

Even with the signing of the new PEPFAR legislation, George Bush's signature program to provide funding to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria around the world, the United States still lacks a detailed policy to fight HIV here in this country. Nevertheless, most people living with HIV in the U.S. are more fortunate than those in other countries where the vast majority of people living with HIV/AIDS do not receive life prolonging medication. In reality, it is estimated that access to antiretroviral treatment is below 10% in every region except the Americas. So, with the greatest health crisis in modern history facing us and a clearly checkered national and international response: where is the outrage?

CBS Evening News Report of African Americans and HIV

2008-07-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

The CBS' "Evening News"on Thursday examined HIV/AIDS among blacks living in the U.S. According to CDC, blacks accounted for 49% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2006, despite making up only 13% of the population. In addition, 69% of AIDS cases among those ages 13 to 19 and 56% among those ages 20 to 24 are black, the "Evening News" reports." According to the "Evening News," many advocates are saying that presidential candidates Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) are not doing enough to address HIV/AIDS. In addition, many advocates are upset that the candidates have said more about addressing HIV/AIDS in Africa, rather than in the black community in the U.S. Is HIV/AIDS in the US too controversial for our presidential candidates to address. Or is it the 'Dick Cheney phenomenon' -remember during the vice presidential debates where he actually said that he was unaware of the rates of HIV in Black women! What is clear to me is that, if we don't put pressure on not just the presidential candidates, but all politicians to address HIV/AIDS, it will never be a political priority.

Visit: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4291857n

New Data on HIV is coming!

2008-07-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

On or around August 3, 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will release new HIV incidence estimates for the United States. These new incidence estimates will provide the clearest picture to date of incidence (or the number of new HIV infections in a given year). Many in the HIV/AIDS field have felt for some time that the CDC estimates have been much higher than what has been reported. Soon we will have a better picture. Stay tuned!

Does charity begin at home?

2008-07-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

Many American HIV/AIDS advocates have lamented about how it seems that the major focus of HIV/AIDS funding, especially charitable giving, seems to be concentrated on Africa. While there is no question that the epidemic has infected and killed more people in Sub Saharan Africa than any other place in the world, it seems as if many people don't seem to realize that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is also here. Even the federal government's response has been inadequate. For example:

In areas such as Detroit, Washington D.C. and the Deep South, HIV rates among segments of the Black community approach those of several countries in Africa.
If Black America were its own country, it would rank 16th in people living with HIV; 105th in life expectancy and 88th in infant mortality worldwide.

If prevention is the key, than shouldn't we all be doing everything we can to prevent HIV from getting worse in this country, while we still can.

HIV Down South

2008-07-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

"The Southern U.S. is not receiving enough federal funding to provide adequate HIV prevention, treatment and support programs,according to a report scheduled to be released on Monday by the Southern AIDS Coalition, the Birmingham News reports. An increasing number of new HIV cases in the South -- combined with"inadequate funding, resources and infrastructure" -- have"resulted in a catastrophic situation in our public health care systems in the South," the report says. Although health officials for years knew that HIV was increasingly affecting the South, they believed the increase in new HIV cases was coming from large cities in Florida, according to Hiers. However, experts concentrated on the Deep South --Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina -- and found HIV cases spreading in rural areaswith large black populations with financial, health and social issues. " Total deaths from AIDS-related causes increased to 190,000 in the South in 2001 through 2005, while the number of such deaths decreased in the rest of the nation during that time period, the report says.

So what are we to do? So far the federal government's response has been to hold down the total amount of HIV prevention and care dollars and slowly begin to redistribute it. At the same time, they have been aggressively pushing more testing. So let me ask you this: what happens if we test more people, find more positives, but don't significantly increase the money available to treat and assist people living with HIV? Well, I think that you know the answer: more rationing of care.

What do you think?

AIDS Conspiracy

2008-07-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ask a person, like myself, who works in the HIV/AIDS field about "Conspiracy Theories" and you will get an earful. Frankly, they remain one of the greatest obstacles that we face in fighting HIV/AIDS. I know that may be an unbelievable statement, but so many people believe them and hold on to these conspiracies, that they often won't listen or believe the true information. The article below summarizes the origins of some of the major conspiracy theories. Tell me what you think?

Gary

The AIDS Conspiracy Handbook Jeremiah Wright's paranoia, in context. By Juliet Lapidos Posted Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 5:51 PM ET Barack Obama rebuked his former pastor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright on Tuesday for giving sermons in which he blamed the government for creating a racist state and "inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color." Wright isn't the first to say that AIDS originated in the White House. Others have attributed the epidemic to a laboratory accident, malnutrition, or even God's divine will. Here's a field guide to the most prevalent conspiracy theories: Government Involvement The belief cited by Wrightâ€”that the government invented HIVâ€”seems to have originated during the early years of the epidemic. In 1986, crackpot East German biologist Jakob Segal published "AIDS: USA Home-Made Evil." According to the pamphlet, scientists at a Fort Detrick, Md., military lab manufactured the disease by synthesizing HTLV-1 (a retrovirus that causes T-cell leukemia) with Visna (a sheep virus). The scientists administered their lethal concoction to prison inmates, who then introduced the disease into the general population. In case you're wondering, Segal has since been accused of being a Soviet disinformation agent. Similarly, the aptly named Boyd E. Graves (who calls himself a doctor although he has only a law degree) has postulated that scientists in the employ of the U.S. Special Virus Program modified Visna to create HIV during the 1970s. The government, with help from pharmaceutical company Merck, added the virus to an experimental hepatitis B vaccine, which was given to gay men and blacks in New York and San Francisco. And then there's Gary Glum, author of Full Disclosure, who fronts the theory that scientists at the Cold Spring Harbor lab in New York engineered HIV, and that the World Health Organization spread the virus under cover of the smallpox eradication program. Glum believes the virus was created to wipe out, or at least control, the black population. (According to a study released in 2005 by the Rand Corp., more than one-quarter of African-Americans believe the disease was engineered in a government lab, and 16 percent think it was created to control the black population.) Laboratory Accident Edward Hooper, a British journalist, argued in his 1999 book, The River, that Dr. Hilary Koprowski of the Wistar Research Institute unintentionally caused the AIDS epidemic by using chimp kidneys to produce an oral polio vaccine. The chimps, says Hooper, were infected with SIV (the simian precursor to AIDS). Then, via an experimental mass-vaccination program in the Belgian Congo, SIV made the jump from monkey to man. Hooper's contaminated polio vaccine thesis sounds less wacky than most conspiracy theories and has attracted support from a few notable academicsâ€”including late Oxford professor W.D. Hamilton. But it's definitely wrong. Hooper says Koprowski got his kidney samples from chimps in the Congo. The problem is that the SIV strain endemic to chimps from that region is phylogenetically distinct from HIV. The offending chimps probably came from Cameroon. It's Not a Virus Among the most popular, and pernicious, conspiracy theories is that AIDS isn't caused by a virus at all. Peter Duesberg, a biology professor at University of California-Berkeley, has argued that drugs and promiscuity are the principal causes of the disease in the United States. He attributes AIDS in Africa to malnutrition. South African President Thabo Mbeki has voiced support for the so-called Duesberg hypothesis, and his health minister, Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang, has recommended treating AIDS with foodstuffs, like garlic, rather than pharmaceuticals. God's Punishment The Rev. Jerry Falwell famously argued that AIDS is a plague sent by God to punish homosexuals and American society for tolerating homosexuality. Jerry Thacker, the publisher of Today's Christian Teen and other Christian magazines, has also called AIDS a "gay plague" and referred to homosexuality as "the death style." In 2003, the Bush administration nominated Thacker to serve on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS. He withdrew his name under pressure from gay rights groups and Democrats.

A Child is born!

2008-07-16T00:50:00.000-07:00

Today, my blog was born. I still am a complete novice about this stuff. But, no guts, no glory, huh. I plan to spend a lot of my blogging, intially, focusing on the issue of HIV and sexual health. In time, well we will just see where it goes. So I encourage everyone to visit and weigh in on the issues. Look forward to seeing you here!