RWGNYC's Blog
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Infection Control Today - Hot News
Infection Control Today - Hot News: "The race to stay ahead of HIV disease is falling victim to the lack of a federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2007. Losses in funding for HIV/AIDS research will set back efforts to fight drug-resistant strains and to find less toxic medications, according to the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA). HIVMA is calling on the new Congress to reverse these losses as it reconsiders health and education spending for the rest of the fiscal year.
Last year's Congress failed to pass a budget for FY 2007 before adjourning. It left the federal government running on a continuing resolution at FY 2006 levels, which, after inflation, amounts to about a 3.5 percent cut. Furthermore, National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy is to disburse only 80 percent of a research grant's funding until a final budget is approved..."
Last year's Congress failed to pass a budget for FY 2007 before adjourning. It left the federal government running on a continuing resolution at FY 2006 levels, which, after inflation, amounts to about a 3.5 percent cut. Furthermore, National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy is to disburse only 80 percent of a research grant's funding until a final budget is approved..."
MiamiHerald.com | 01/29/2007 | Miami doctor found guilty of HIV/AIDS fraud
MiamiHerald.com | 01/29/2007 | Miami doctor found guilty of HIV/AIDS fraud: "A federal jury in Miami has convicted a doctor, Frantz Achille, on five counts of healthcare fraud involving $2.1 million in fraudulent Medicare billings involving two Miami HIV/AIDS clinics.
Achille was a doctor at two Miami-based HIV/AIDS clinics in 2005. The indictment alleged that he and others falsified medical paperwork to get paid for expensive HIV/AIDS treatments and medications.
The evidence at trial showed that in most cases, the patients never needed the treatments that were supposedly given -- and never received any treatment. The evidence at trial showed that the patients were paid cash bribes or kickbacks to attend the clinics.
Last year, Rosa Walled, Rafael Walled, Gregory Delatour and Adela Faustina Gonzalez pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms in connection with the same scheme.
Isaac Nosovsky, a former Weston plastic surgeon, was convicted by a jury last year in connection with fraud at one of the two clinics. He was sentenced to 65 months in prison.
Achille is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17. He faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the five counts on which he was convicted."
Achille was a doctor at two Miami-based HIV/AIDS clinics in 2005. The indictment alleged that he and others falsified medical paperwork to get paid for expensive HIV/AIDS treatments and medications.
The evidence at trial showed that in most cases, the patients never needed the treatments that were supposedly given -- and never received any treatment. The evidence at trial showed that the patients were paid cash bribes or kickbacks to attend the clinics.
Last year, Rosa Walled, Rafael Walled, Gregory Delatour and Adela Faustina Gonzalez pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms in connection with the same scheme.
Isaac Nosovsky, a former Weston plastic surgeon, was convicted by a jury last year in connection with fraud at one of the two clinics. He was sentenced to 65 months in prison.
Achille is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17. He faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the five counts on which he was convicted."
Lexington Herald-Leader | 01/29/2007 | Town hall meeting to focus on HIV/AIDS among blacks
Lexington Herald-Leader | 01/29/2007 | Town hall meeting to focus on HIV/AIDS among blacks: "Feb. 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department and community organizations are teaming up to hold a town hall meeting on the topic in Lexington.
The meeting will 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 237 East Fifth Street. It is free.
“HIV/AIDS is devastating the black community,” said Mark Johnson, health equity team leader for the health department. “In order to put a stop to it, black America and black Kentucky must make this epidemic a top priority...”"
The meeting will 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 237 East Fifth Street. It is free.
“HIV/AIDS is devastating the black community,” said Mark Johnson, health equity team leader for the health department. “In order to put a stop to it, black America and black Kentucky must make this epidemic a top priority...”"
7.30 Report - 30/01/2007: Govt mulls ad campaign to fight HIV surge
7.30 Report - 30/01/2007: Govt mulls ad campaign to fight HIV surge: "KERRY O'BRIEN: Remember the grim reaper, the spectre of death used so effectively to help head off an AIDS epidemic in Australia two decades ago? Well, grim reaper II is on the way. Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott is seeking funding for a $10 million national advertising campaign to reverse a dramatic increase in the number of Australians contracting HIV - a 41 per cent increase, in fact. It's feared a new generation of gay men have become complacent about the threat of the disease, which they no longer see as an automatic death sentence, thanks to new anti retroviral drug treatments. Nick Grimm reports..."
Monday, January 29, 2007
Violence against women fueling spread of HIV worldwide
Violence against women fueling spread of HIV worldwide: "Violence against women worldwide is fueling the spread of HIV in the population, and unwillingness among some governments to acknowledge the issue will continue to undermine prevention and education efforts, advocates said this week at the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, Inter Press Service reports.
'Violence is largely a cause of HIV infection among many women; violence in the homes and in the streets, violence everywhere,' Ludfine Anyango, the national HIV/AIDS coordinator at Action Kenya-International, said.
Anyango also discussed women's inability to negotiate condom use with their partners, which puts them at an increased risk of HIV transmission. "
'Violence is largely a cause of HIV infection among many women; violence in the homes and in the streets, violence everywhere,' Ludfine Anyango, the national HIV/AIDS coordinator at Action Kenya-International, said.
Anyango also discussed women's inability to negotiate condom use with their partners, which puts them at an increased risk of HIV transmission. "
New program in Vietnam to provide youth with HIV/AIDS education
New program in Vietnam to provide youth with HIV/AIDS education: "The Danish International Development Agency in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund and the Voice of Vietnam radio on Wednesday launched a radio program that aims to educate young people in the country about HIV/AIDS, the Vietnam News Brief Service reports (Vietnam News Brief Service, 1/25).
The long-term goal of the program is to promote increased access to and improve the quality of reproductive health services. "
The long-term goal of the program is to promote increased access to and improve the quality of reproductive health services. "
Saturday, January 27, 2007
MediaPost Publications - Body Shop Teams With MTV For AIDS - 01/26/2007
MediaPost Publications - Body Shop Teams With MTV For AIDS - 01/26/2007: "Body Shop Teams With MTV For AIDS
by Christine Bittar, Friday, Jan 26, 2007 5:00 AM ET
NATURAL PRODUCTS RETAIL CHAIN THE Body Shop is partnering with MTV Networks International on a fund-raising and awareness campaign for HIV and AIDS called Spray to Change Attitude. The venture includes the sale of a fragrance called Rougeberry.
The initiative is an extension of MTV's Staying Alive Foundation, which is a charity offering grants to people fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS."
by Christine Bittar, Friday, Jan 26, 2007 5:00 AM ET
NATURAL PRODUCTS RETAIL CHAIN THE Body Shop is partnering with MTV Networks International on a fund-raising and awareness campaign for HIV and AIDS called Spray to Change Attitude. The venture includes the sale of a fragrance called Rougeberry.
The initiative is an extension of MTV's Staying Alive Foundation, which is a charity offering grants to people fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS."
Bradenton Herald | 01/26/2007 | Legend helps fight HIV/AIDS
Bradenton Herald | 01/26/2007 | Legend helps fight HIV/AIDS: "SARASOTA - Tennis legend Martina Navratilova takes center court this weekend at Longboat Key Club & Resort to raise $100,000 for a Zimbabwe orphanage that cares for children whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS.
The theme - 'Tearing Down Walls and Building Hope.'"
The theme - 'Tearing Down Walls and Building Hope.'"
cbs2.com - Council Names Feb. 7 Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
cbs2.com - Council Names Feb. 7 Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: "Council Names Feb. 7 Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
(CBS) LOS ANGELES In an effort to encourage more African Americans to get tested for HIV, the Los Angeles City Council Friday designated Feb. 7 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day."
(CBS) LOS ANGELES In an effort to encourage more African Americans to get tested for HIV, the Los Angeles City Council Friday designated Feb. 7 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day."
The News-Press: Opinion
Friday, January 26, 2007
Science & Medicine | HIV/AIDS Vaccine Candidates Enter Crucial Stage As Clinical Trials End, IAVI Head Says - Kaisernetwork.org
Science & Medicine | HIV/AIDS Vaccine Candidates Enter Crucial Stage As Clinical Trials End, IAVI Head Says - Kaisernetwork.org: " Experimental HIV/AIDS vaccines under development by Merck and Sanofi-Aventis are entering crucial stages, and results from clinical trials for both vaccine candidates are expected in 2008..."
mtvU, Kaiser Family Foundation Team on HIV/AIDS Game Contest | Digital Media Wire
mtvU, Kaiser Family Foundation Team on HIV/AIDS Game Contest | Digital Media Wire: "New York - Viacom's mtvU campus music TV network announced on Thursday that it has partnered with the Kaiser Family Foundation to launch a contest that seeks the best concept for a Web-based video game that will raise HIV/AIDS awareness among 15-24 year-olds in the U.S."
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Study: Selenium boosts immune system of those with HIV/AIDS
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Aidsmap | People with AIDS have increased lung cancer risk, and it's not all due to smoking
Aidsmap | People with AIDS have increased lung cancer risk, and it's not all due to smoking: "People with AIDS are much more likely than the general population to develop lung cancer, American researchers report in the January 11th edition of AIDS. Even though up to 80% of HIV-positive individuals in the US smoke (compared to 30% of the general population), the investigators found that this factor alone could not explain the elevated risk of lung cancer seen in people with AIDS. ".....
Soaring costs imperil Brazil's free HIV/AIDS care -- Queer Lesbian Gay Election News -- Gay.com
Soaring costs imperil Brazil's free HIV/AIDS care -- Queer Lesbian Gay Election News -- Gay.com: "Brazil has offered free AIDS treatment to its citizens for the past decade, but the highly effective program could be bankrupted by soaring costs for new AIDS drugs, the Boston Globe reported.
Prices for the new medicines have increased Brazil's AIDS-drug spending more than 75 percent over the past two years. The new antiretrovirals are needed because tens of thousands of patients have become resistant to the old antiretroviral drugs that are available in a cheaper, generic form. The new drugs cost as much as $17,000 per person yearly in Brazil, while the old generic drugs cost hundreds of dollars per patient every year.".....
Prices for the new medicines have increased Brazil's AIDS-drug spending more than 75 percent over the past two years. The new antiretrovirals are needed because tens of thousands of patients have become resistant to the old antiretroviral drugs that are available in a cheaper, generic form. The new drugs cost as much as $17,000 per person yearly in Brazil, while the old generic drugs cost hundreds of dollars per patient every year.".....
Express
Express: "ABOUT 2,000 TO 3,000 HIV/AIDS cases seem to have been forgotten by the District's AIDS agency. As The Post's Jose Antonio Vargas reported on Saturday, records of the cases, dating from 2003 to 2005, were discovered in boxes recently and public health officials, including Marie Sansone of the Administration for HIV Policy and Programs, at right, are trying to play catch up, just another reminder on the problems the nation's capital faces in its fight against HIV/AIDS.
Some sobering — and frustrating — statistics:"
Some sobering — and frustrating — statistics:"
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Edwards Touts Investments in Health Care - washingtonpost.com
Edwards Touts Investments in Health Care - washingtonpost.com: "WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential contender John Edwards says it is more important to invest in universal health care and lifting people out of poverty than to reduce the budget deficit.
The 2004 vice presidential nominee said in an interview broadcast Sunday said 'there is a tension' between the two directions, but he has made his choice.".....
The 2004 vice presidential nominee said in an interview broadcast Sunday said 'there is a tension' between the two directions, but he has made his choice.".....
Anglican Journal: Archbishop urges education to fight HIV/AIDS
Anglican Journal: Archbishop urges education to fight HIV/AIDS: "Archbishop urges education to fight HIV/AIDS
Staff
Jan 1, 2007
Christians have the responsibility to help those who have been ravaged by HIV/AIDS and to educate themselves and others “so as to avoid further spread of the infection,” Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said in a statement commemorating World AIDS Day last Dec. 1. "....
Staff
Jan 1, 2007
Christians have the responsibility to help those who have been ravaged by HIV/AIDS and to educate themselves and others “so as to avoid further spread of the infection,” Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said in a statement commemorating World AIDS Day last Dec. 1. "....
