Source: http://www.cdcnpin.org/

UNITED STATES:   “Justice: Prisons to Step Up Anti-Rape Efforts”
Associated Press     (05.17.12):: Jesse J. Holland

The Obama administration on May 17 issued mandatory screening, enforcement, and prevention regulations to reduce the number of inmates sexually victimized in correctional settings. Federal, state, and local officials must adopt a “zero tolerance” policy on prison rape, the administration said.

The rules, which have been in development since Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, are immediately binding on federal prisons. States that do not comply will face the loss of 5 percent of their Department of Justice (DOJ) prison funds unless the governor certifies that an equal amount is being spent to bring the state into compliance. Organizations that accredit prisons will be barred from receiving federal grants unless their processes include similar anti-rape standards, meaning that noncompliant local jails could lose their accreditation.

The president said the standards apply to all federal confinement facilities; all other agencies with confinement facilities – including the Homeland Security Department, which operates immigrant detainment facilities – are required to put anti-rape protocols in place within a year. This drew objections from some immigration advocates, who denounced the idea that HSD would be permitted to develop its own rules instead of following those of DOJ.

The new regulations: stipulate that inmates be screened for the potential of sexual victimization, and that this information be used in assigning housing and work; require employee background checks; and prohibit abusers from being hired. Firing is the presumptive punishment for employees who violate the blanket ban on sexual contact between staff and inmates.

Cross-gender pat-downs of female and juvenile inmates are banned. Juvenile inmates must be held separately from adult inmates; evidence must be preserved after incident reports; anonymous and outside-prison reports of sexual victimization are permitted; and facilities must have plans for adequate staffing and video monitoring.

 

UNITED STATES:   “Report: Nearly 10 Percent of Inmates Suffer Sexual Abuse”
MSNBC.com     (05.17.12):: Kari Huus

The first National Former Prisoners Survey, released May 17 by the Department of Justice (DOJ), reported almost 10 percent of former inmates said they were the victims of sexual abuse while incarcerated. About 3.7 percent said they were forced to have sex with another prisoner, while about 5.3 percent reported incidents involving staff members.

One-quarter of those victimized by inmates said they had been restrained during the attack, and one-quarter were physically injured. Twenty-three percent reported serious injuries, including anal or vaginal tearing (12 percent), chipped or lost teeth (12 percent), being knocked out (8 percent), internal injuries (6 percent), stab wounds (4 percent) or broken bones (4 percent).

Men who have sex with men suffered victimization at 10 times the rate of heterosexual men (3.5 percent of heterosexuals, vs. 39 percent of homosexuals and 34 percent of bisexuals).

Half of those who reported being victims of sexual misconduct by staffers said they had been offered special privileges; one-third said they had been talked into participating. More than three-quarters of these reports involved male inmates and female staff members. All sexual contact between prisoners and staff is considered legally nonconsensual; however, respondents characterized some of these encounters as “willing.”

The survey includes responses from 518,000 former prisoners who were on supervised parole in mid-2008.

“For too long, incidents of sexual abuse against incarcerated persons have not been taken as seriously as sexual abuse outside prison walls,” DOJ said in a statement. “In popular culture, prison rape is often the subject of jokes; in public discourse, it has been at time dismissed by some as an inevitable – or even deserved – consequence of criminality.”

Immediately after the report’s release, the Obama administration announced new mandatory standards aimed at reducing sexual victimization in correctional settings.

 

 

Lee to restore all HIV/AIDS funds

By Seth Hemmelgarn

CLICK HERE to read the article on ebar.com

Mayor Ed Lee will restore all of about $6 million in federal HIV/AIDS funds that the city expects to lose in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Supervisor Scott Wiener confirmed the information to the Bay Area Reporter this morning (Thursday, May 17).

“The mayor really gets it,” Wiener said. “He understands this city has a 30-year commitment to those impacted by this disease, and he has been just an incredible, incredible ally. I’m just really thrilled that he’s doing this.”

City officials and service providers have expressed grave concern about the impact that the cuts would have on people living with and at risk for HIV and AIDS. Reductions from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act will be about $4.6 million in fiscal year 2012-13, and cuts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be around $3.1 million. The Ryan White decrease alone was expected to result in a 20 percent cut in funding to local nonprofits.

[Upated: Lee spokesman Francis Tsang said in an email that the restoration is $6.6 million “because of a smaller reduction than expected” from the city’s Ryan White Part B award.]

 

Wiener, who said he’s been working “very closely” with Lee and his staff for about six months to restore federal funds for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, also said, “My desire has always been the mayor would restore everything.”

Lee is able to backfill the gap “because of improving revenue,” said Wiener. The city’s projected budget deficit for next year has declined from approximately $170 million to about $150 million.

“Tax revenue has been trending up,” Wiener said. However, he said, “The wild card in all this” is state and federal government actions. He referred to California Governor Jerry Brown’s announcement earlier this week that he wants to slash more than $8 billion from the state budget to help close a gap of almost $16 billion.

“We don’t know what impact that is going to have on our budget, but our own budget has been improving,” Wiener said.

Wiener also noted that a drop in federal HIV/AIDS funds approximately matching the $8 million that’s expected for next year is also anticipated in fiscal year 2013-14.

He said Lee indicated to the community-based organizations that met with Lee and other city officials Thursday morning that over the coming months “we need to all work together to figure out what we need to do into the future.”

For now, Wiener said, “I’m grateful that we have a mayor who gets it when it comes to HIV, and who just decided to resolve the issue out of the gate and not create chaos at the Board of Supervisors during the add-back process.”

At a budget town hall in April with Wiener and Supervisor David Campos, who are both gay, Lee said that he and his administration “haven’t made any decisions on the budget yet.” But he did say his administration was looking at how to pay for the federal AIDS cuts with local dollars.

“It is up to us to find that money,” sad Lee.

Wiener, Campos, and bisexual Supervisor Christina Olague have all been pushing for the restorations.

The mayor’s decision came one day after Wiener, Campos, and Olague joined with HIV/AIDS service providers and clients at a news conference in front of City Hall in which they called on Lee to restore the cuts. The B.A.R. also editorialized in its Thursday issue for Lee to backfill the money.

Mike Smith, president of the city’s HIV/AIDS Provider Network, said in a statement, “We are deeply grateful to the mayor for his bold decision to use city funds to replace federal HIV/AIDS program cuts that would have destabilized San Francisco’s nationally recognized system of care and prevention. His leadership will help thousands of San Franciscan continue to access HIV/AIDS treatment services and will prevent the further spread of new infections.”

Smith, who’s also executive director of the AIDS Emergency Fund, added, “In this time of decreasing state and federal funding, his action today reaffirms our city’s long-standing commitment to people with HIV/AIDS.”

[Updated: Lee spokeswoman Christine Falvey said that the mayor “worked very closely with the impacted groups,” city Health Director Barbara Garcia, and others to restore the funding. Since “early on” in the process, Falvey said, Lee “wanted to prioritize protecting these funds,” despite the city budget gaps that remain.

She said Lee was concerned about “the devastating impacts not funding these programs would have on people living with HIV and AIDS.”

Falvey also said, “There has been some good news” on city finances, “but there’s still a pretty serious shortfall to overcome between now and June 1,” when Lee is to submit his budget proposal to supervisors.

Lee’s asked HIV/AIDS-related community-based organizations to start looking at the 2013-14 cuts within the next few months, she said. Using the same “collaborative approach that resulted in this funding restoration is something the mayor is interested in continuing,” and the mayor wants to maintain “an open dialogue” with those involved, Falvey said.]

SOUTH AFRICA:   “There’s Evidence that This Really Works and Anything that Works Is Good’: Views on the Introduction of Medical Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in South Africa”
AIDS Care Vol. 24; No. 4: P. 496-501    (04..12):: Cecilia Milford; and others

The partial efficacy (40 percent to 60 percent) of surgically conducted medical male circumcision (MMC) in preventing HIV transmission to circumcised men has been demonstrated in three clinical trials. “This research formed part of a larger study exploring the importance of integration of sexual and reproductive health with HIV services,” the authors wrote, noting the objective of eliciting key informants’ views on the introduction of MMC for HIV prevention in South Africa.

Semi-structured interviews were used to ask 21 key informants – representing the South African Health Department, local and international non-governmental organizations and universities – about their view on the issue. The interviews were transcribed, and all MMC discussions were coded for analysis using NVivo 8.

Most of the interviewees were knowledgeable about MMC for HIV prevention and indicated that making it available in South Africa was a good idea. Some recommended immediate introduction; others felt MMC should be introduced with caution.

Participants listed numerous factors that should be given consideration. These included culture, the impact of MMC on women, the possibility that behavioral disinhibition might increase risky sexual behavior, and that MMC might become another vertical health service program. Most interviewees felt that MMC should be undertaken in neonates; however, they acknowledged concerns regarding cultural responses to this. MMC implementation recommendations ranged from integrating services at the primary health care level to MMC provision by private medical practitioners.

“In conclusion, MMC is viewed as a key HIV prevention strategy,” the authors wrote. “However, there are numerous factors which could hinder introduction and uptake in South Africa and in the region. It is important to explore and understand these factors and for these to be aligned in the national MMC policy.”

UNITED STATES:   “AIDS Fight Enters New Phase with Prevention Pill”

Associated Press     (05.11.12):: Lindsey Tanner

With a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel’s endorsement of the use of the drug Truvada to prevent HIV infection, the 30-year battle against the AIDS epidemic is advancing to a new phase, advocates say.

“With this recommendation, we’re nearing a watershed moment in our fight against HIV,” said James Loduca, a spokesperson for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “We know this isn’t a magic bullet, and it’s not going to be the right prevention strategy for everyone, but it could save thousands of lives in the United States and potentially millions around the world.”

Truvada has been on the US market as an HIV treatment since 2004. It is already being prescribed off-label by some doctors for preventing HIV infection in certain patients who are healthy but at risk. If FDA expands approval to formally sanction this use, insurance companies could likely cover the cost. And widening the market could prompt Truvada’s maker, Gilead Sciences Inc., to lower its price – currently around $11,000 to $14,000 a year.

Truvada is available in poor countries for as little as $9 per month, said a Gilead spokesperson, but generic versions will not be available in the United States until after the US patent expires in 2021.

Truvada can cause kidney and liver problems. But for some people, the risk of kidney problems “10 years down the line may be less than the risk for acquiring HIV, which is significantly more problematic and can be fatal,” said Jim Pickett, prevention advocacy director at AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

FDA’s decision is expected by June 15.

UNITED STATES:   “Low Rates of Hepatitis Screening and Vaccination of HIV-Infected MSM in HIV Clinics” 

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Vol. 39; No. 5: P. 349-353    (05..12):: Karen W. Hoover; and others

Due to similar behavioral risk factors for the two infections, HIV-positive men who have sex with men are at increased risk of viral hepatitis. The authors of the current study set out to assess adherence to HIV management guidelines that recommend hepatitis A, B, and C testing for HIV-positive patients, and vaccination against hepatitis A and B for those susceptible.

The researchers evaluated the hepatitis prevention services received by a random sample of HIV-positive MSM at eight HIV clinics in six US cities. To estimate rates of hepatitis screening and vaccination both overall and by clinic site, the team abstracted the medical records of all clinic visits by these patients from 2004 to 2007.

The records of 1,329 patients making a total of 14,831 clinic visits from 2004 to 2006 were abstracted, indicating screening rates of 47 percent for hepatitis A, 52 percent for hepatitis B, and 54 percent for hepatitis C. Among screened patients found to be susceptible, 29 percent were vaccinated for hepatitis A, and 25 percent were vaccinated for hepatitis B. Significant variations in screening and vaccination rates by clinic were noted.

“Awareness of hepatitis susceptibility and hepatitis co-infection status in HIV-infected patients is essential for optimal clinical management,” the researchers concluded. “Despite recommendations for hepatitis screening and vaccination of HIV-infected MSM, rates were suboptimal at all clinic sites. These low rates highlight the importance of routine review of adherence to recommended clinical services. Such reviews can prompt the development and implementation of simple and sustainable interventions to improve the quality of care.”

By STEPHANIE NOVAK

Published: May 13, 2012

CLICK HERE to read the article on nytimes.com

Two decades ago, a woman having a difficult birth in a Ugandan village would have had few options to get life-saving treatment if there was not a nearby health clinic. But today, mobile technology can help her get advice from a doctor in Kampala over the telephone, alert a community health worker about her situation, or even get her to a hospital.

Mobile technology is changing the landscape of health care delivery across the developing world by giving people who live in rural villages the ability to connect with doctors, nurses and other health care workers in major cities.

“Now, a phone call can compress the time that it would have taken before to come to that decision point and get the woman care more often and quickly,” said Dr. Alain Labrique, a professor of International Health and Epidemiology atJohns Hopkins University, in Baltimore.

More than 60 faculty members and 120 students are part of the Johns Hopkins Global mHealth Initiative, which has 51 projects exploring the use of mobile technology in health.

Its work received such a positive response that in March 2013, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will begin two courses on incorporating mobile technologies into global health fieldwork.

“The students coming into global health today are challenged with the need to think of the potential appropriate use of these technologies in the resource-limited areas where we work,” said Dr. Labrique. “There’s a lot of excitement among faculty, but there’s 10 times as much excitement coming from students.”

“What mobile technologies are doing is changing the way that we see global health in terms of our ability to impact populations, to collect data in real time, to develop real strategies to impact public health that we hadn’t thought of before,” he added.

Dr. Larry Chang, a Johns Hopkins researcher who studied H.I.V./AIDS and the use of technology in Uganda, said that “over the past decade of working in Africa you really started seeing this amazing growth in the use of mobile phones and it seemed obvious to use it for global health.”

While mobile technology is one of the quickest ways to deliver health care to those who would otherwise have little to no access, there are challenges in making the technology effective.

“There hasn’t been a lot of rigorous evaluation of their impact,” said Dr. Chang. “We need to study and make sure that these devices are doing what people say they are doing and that they are really helping people.”

Students face challenges beyond simply figuring out the most efficient way to use mobile technologies to deliver health care.

When phones can bring care to 50,000 patients as opposed to 50, it is important that other resources, like health care professionals and medical services, also be increased to support the larger workload, Dr. Labrique said.

He said that “mHealth has the potential to be integrated into the way we teach.”

“We have to be able to demonstrate how much impact on a mortality or health outcome they have before they actually get recognized by global bodies like W.H.O. and the mainstream health system,” Dr. Labrique added.

 

 

 

 

 

Contact:  Rudolph Carn – 404-660-0527

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 2013 National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities is being held in Los Angeles, California

 

 

 

Atlanta, Georgia – NAESM, UCLA Health, Hope & Healing (H3) Conference, the local Host Committee and participating sponsors to date are preparing to present the 10^th edition of the 2013 National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities slated for January 17 – 20, 2013 at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel located at 5711 West Century Blvd, Los Angeles, California.

 

 

 

This year’ conference marks the 10^th year of bringing this most important undertaking to Black gay men and our community as a whole.  This is the only National conference for and by Black gay men.  It is with pleasure and grace that we invite you to the 2013 National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities in Los Angeles, CA from January 17– 20, 2013.  We are looking forward to this being another large turn out with the help of the residents, government officials and the host committee of Los Angeles. We are also excited to introduce the fifth Creating Responsible Intelligent Black Brothers (CRIBB) Fellowship participants.  We welcome for the first time a new conference partner this year, UCLA (H3) conference.  The H3 conference will take place the day before the 2013 conference starts.  Its purpose is to: 1) explore the current research, examining the intersection of behavioral, psychological, socio-cultural, and biomedical risk factors contributing to the HIV epidemic, as well as protective and resiliency factors among Black MSM; 2) Develop and sustain local and national relationships between current and aspiring investigators, and community based participatory research collaborative to advance research and training aimed at reducing HIV among Black MSM; and 3)Generate reports, monographs and manuscripts that document key issues and provide recommendations for future research, programs and funding opportunities.

 

“10 Years and the Dialogue Continues” – HIV Prevention as Social Justice for Black Gay Men/MSM 2013 and Beyond is our theme/charge!  During the 2013 conference, there will be a renewed sense of unity and commitment to an end of HIV. There is strength in our diversity and we have seen that we, as a community are a powerful force to be reckoned with.  During the 2012 conference we witnessed again how our youth/young Black brothers are maturing and stepping into more prominent leadership roles; as they keep moving forward, we must continue to provide them with encouragement and meaningful opportunities for engagement and leadership. This newest generation of leaders comes with inspiration, innovative ideas and the drive to make lasting change among Black Gay men, as well as the overall Black community.  We must remember our fallen brother Dr. Colomb and encourage, as he did, many young leaders to be the best they can and also keep community in mind and not self.  I ask that we all take a pledge to be our brother’s keeper and each teach one and/or become a mentor to a young Black gay man.  With that said, “10 Years and the Dialogue Continues” HIV Prevention as Social Justice for Black Gay Men/MSM 2013 and Beyond.  Without doubt, we can remove HIV/AIDS and other health disparities from our community.

 

NAESM mission is to provide national and local leadership to address the myriad of health and wellness issues confronted by Black gay men through advocacy, services, and education.  Conference 2013 will have over 40 abstracts and poster presentations dealing with HIV/AIDS and other health disparities as it relates to African Americans MSM.

 

 

 

Conference 2013 expects to attract researchers and clinicians, doctors, youth and young adult’s organizations, people living HIV/AIDS, health care professionals, health and social advocates, international and regional professionals, pharmaceutical companies and churches with an HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities focus.  Scholarships are also awarded to youth and young adults through the application process by visiting our website.

 

 

 

Registrants have the opportunity to take advantage of the early registration which ends August 31, 2012. Opportunities exist for exhibit booth space and advertising as well as for submission of abstracts, posters and workshops to be presented at the conference and details are available at www.naesm.org or click on the links below.

 

 

 

Conference Registration Form

 

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=gVquRFQ9NmUUATyvhHtnUg

 

Please note, there will be no Onsite Registration

 

 

 

Emerging Leaders Award Nomination Form

 

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=gnZnYo3DjL72aFKG8TcHZA

 

 

 

Scholarship Application Form

 

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=q7VuycG0bD3vKj8f8Ao1RA

 

 

 

CRIBB Fellowship Application From

 

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=W-tI3xQoQU5nHjLegMHvoQ

 

 

 

Abstract Submission Application Form

 

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=UH2gEUjvaOtj7xFE03lUYQ

 

 

 

Sponsor/Exhibitor Application Form

 

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=Qb28U-z1K5XbgmEbsGpkVA

 

 

 

For more information on the conference please visit www.naesm.org or call headquarters in Atlanta at 404 691 8880.

 

-End-

 

 

 

Application Due July 2 by 12:00 PM PT

Kaiser Permanente has issued a request for proposals (RFP), entitled:

“Community-based Interventions to Increase HIV Testing and HIV Care Utilization Grant”  

Click here for additional details and application materials.

Aligned with the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, this RFP is part of Kaiser Permanente’s continuing effort to improve the health and well-being of racial and ethnic minorities, and to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health outcomes, specifically related to HIV disease.

Questions about the RFP or proposal preparation?  Please email questions to John L. Edmiston, National Manager, Community Engagement, Kaiser Permanente

 

Questions about the application or submissions?  Please email questions to Alexandra X. Caraballo, National Manager, Charitable Contributions, Kaiser Permanente

 

 

From U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

May 14, 2012