Georgia State to host National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day event

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will hold an event to observe National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10 at Georgia State University.

The event, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Region IV and GSU's Department of Student Health Promotion, will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hall in Dahlberg Hall, 30 Courtland St.

Other co-sponsors include the Center for Black Women's Wellness, The Creative Conversations Group LLC, Girlfriends Health Guide and AID Atlanta.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in five people living with HIV infection in the United States do not know they are infected. In 2007, more than a quarter of diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States were among women and girls age 13 and older. The numbers are an indicator that it is time to increase awareness and prevention efforts.

According to the Office on Women's Health, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a nationwide observance that encourages people to take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS and raise awareness of its impact on women and girls. Organizations across the country come together to offer support, encourage discussion, and teach women and girls about prevention of HIV, the importance of getting tested for HIV, and how to live with and manage HIV/AIDS.

During the event, Candice Wiggins of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx will share her personal testimony in regards to HIV/AIDS while encouraging young women and girls to take a stand and get tested. The event will highlight a thought provoking HIV/AIDS awareness performance by the group "Substance Abuse Prevention Teen Theater (SAPTT)." In addition, the event will include a self esteem building workshop to inspire women and girls facilitated by AID Atlanta.

For more information on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, please visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/nwghaad.

-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG @FayetteFP

Economic Recovery Act Boosts Georgia's Economy With $2.5 Billion in Direct Aid, More to Come

Seven provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provide billions in direct aid that go right into the hands of Georgians hit hardest by the recession, benefiting local communities as well as protecting families.

These provisions account for only about one-fourth of the Act's total funding, yet they are some of the most effective means for generating economic activity, according to Moody's economist Mark Zandi.

In the first nine months of the Recovery Act, which passed in February, five of the seven direct aid provisions sent almost $2.5 billion to Georgia families, the latest report by the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute shows.

"These are difficult times, but the Recovery Act has kept things from being much worse, as our study shows," said Clare S. Richie, a senior policy analyst for the nonpartisan think tank and one of the report's authors. "Thousands of Georgians are getting help making ends meet despite the worst recession in decades."

The study looked at the Recovery Act's increase in food stamp benefits; expansions of the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit; its new Making Work Pay tax credit for workers; three forms of help for unemployed workers; and its one-time payment to retirees, veterans, and people with disabilities. The report details each aid provision and provides county-by-county data for three of the provisions.

"These Recovery Act dollars are doing double duty," said Richie. "Not only are they keeping an estimated 250,000 Georgians out of poverty, but they are also spent quickly and close to home, boosting local businesses and helping them avoid laying off workers."

The Act's provisions are still in effect and more than $1 billion more in direct aid will reach Georgians in 2010. Policymakers designed these provisions to reach a wide range of low- to middle-income Americans not only because they stand the greatest risk of hardship during recessions, but also because they are the most likely to spend quickly whatever money they receive, thereby pumping it into the economy.

"Congress extended the additional unemployment benefits through mid-February," said the co-author and the Institutes' deputy director, Sarah Beth Gehl. "But with unemployment likely to remain high for some time, it will need to extend them further.

"Congress should also consider extending the Act's refundable tax credits for one additional year so they continue to boost the economy and help families as the recovery gets under way."

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage

Emory to Host World's Largest Collegiate Display of The AIDS Memorial Quilt Dec. 1

Emory University will host an 800-panel display of The AIDS Memorial Quilt on World AIDS Day, Tuesday, Dec. 1. Presented by Emory Hillel, the fifth annual "Quilt on the Quad" will take place on the Emory quadrangle from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and will be the largest collegiate display and the second largest in the world that day. In the event of rain, "Quilt on the Quad" will be held on the fourth floor of the Woodruff P.E. Center.

The opening ceremony at 11 a.m. will feature a keynote talk by Sandra Thurman, president and CEO of the International AIDS Trust based in Atlanta at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health. She is one of the world's leading experts on AIDS issues, and in 1997 President Bill Clinton appointed her as director of the Office of National AIDS Policy. Thurman also is a former director of AID Atlanta. Following her talk, members of the Emory community will read the names of each individual memorialized by a quilt panel on the quad.

"The AIDS Quilt helps bring more than statistics to the HIV/AIDS epidemic; the Quilt brings a personal, emotional touch to the individuals whose lives were lost," says Emory College sophomore Alexey Abramov, co-organizer of Quilt on the Quad for Emory Hillel. "Until you really see the panels laid out on the campus quad with your own eyes, it's hard to imagine how traumatic and devastating this illness truly is. The Quilt best illustrates how HIV/AIDS does not just affect the victims of the illness, but the toll burdened by their families, friends and communities too."

Emory scientists and physicians also are at the forefront of research efforts to develop effective drugs and vaccines against HIV and AIDS. The Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) is an official National Institutes of Health CFAR site. More than 120 faculty throughout Emory are working on some aspect of HIV/AIDS prevention or treatment.

Many of the scientists within the Emory Vaccine Center are focused on finding an effective vaccine against HIV, and a vaccine developed at the Vaccine Center and Yerkes National Primate Research Center is being tested nationally in a Phase II clinical trial. More than 94 percent of HIV patients in the U.S. on life saving antiviral therapy take a drug developed at Emory University.

The NAMES Project Foundation, Inc., is the international curator of The AIDS Memorial Quilt, now headquartered in Atlanta. The foundation was established in 1987 as a non-governmental organization with the mission of preserving, caring for and using The AIDS Memorial Quilt to inspire action, heighten awareness and foster healing in the age of AIDS.

The entire quilt weighs 54 tons and includes more than 47,000 panels dedicated to more than 91,000 individuals. In November 2005, the quilt was designated as one of "America's Treasures" and was awarded a "Save America's Treasures" federal grant that has established a conservation and preservation program for it.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page

Students Develop New Web Site for AIDS Resource Council of Rome

Berry communication students recently had the opportunity to step outside the classroom and put their skills and knowledge to use for the benefit of the AIDS Resource Council of Rome (ARC). The result is a new interactive Web site featuring videos, photography, interviews and an updated logo.

“The students who did the work were just marvelous, and the end product is something that we are very pleased with,” said Jeanne Cahill, ARC executive director and a 2007 Berry alumna.

The ARC’s new Web site was developed by 11 students in Dr. Brian Carroll’s “Digital Storytelling” class, which cross-trains students in multiple media. After classroom discussions, the students decided to work with the ARC to redesign their Web site, picking up where a previous class had left off.

“They really wanted their Web site to be more user-friendly, to be as interesting and engaging as possible to get more traffic,” said Dustin McCormick, a visual communication major who graduated in May. “We wanted a good quality resource for the people in Rome.”

While catering to the needs of the organization, the students developed story ideas that incorporated their interests in video, writing and photography. Student teams attended ARC events throughout the spring to gather content for the Web site, observing the ARC staff in action at AIDS testing days, health fairs, fundraisers and board meetings.

“With today’s interest in media and electronic connections, we felt we needed a good Web site; the one we had was established in 2004 and was never changed or updated,” Cahill explained. “What the class did was completely revamp the Web site. The result is a very interesting and evolving resource for the local community.”

Through the experience of collaborative Web site creation, students were given a real-world understanding of how to successfully meet the needs of the organization.

“The class was one of the best teaching experiences I've had at Berry simply because of the teamwork and collegiality of and among the students. They really came together to make it happen,” Dr. Carroll said.

The new ARC Web site can be viewed at http://www.aidsresourcecouncil.org.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia

Get tested for HIV on June 27

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Public Health (DPH) urges citizens across Georgia to get tested for HIV on June 27 - National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). NHTD is an annual event that promotes the importance of knowing your HIV status by getting tested. In 2007, Georgia ranked eighth in the U.S. for the reported rate of AIDS cases per 100,000 people. To help reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS, the Division of Public Health encourages Georgians to do their part by getting tested and knowing their status.

“We want people to know that HIV testing, education and counseling assists with preventing the transmission of this disease,” said Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, acting director of the Division of Public Health. “We also want to capitalize on the significance of National HIV Testing Day and encourage those individuals who have had unprotected sex or shared needles to visit their local health department or private practitioner and get tested for HIV.”

The Division of Public Health’s HIV Unit coordinates a variety of free and voluntary HIV counseling and testing services across Georgia through collaborations with local health departments and community-based organizations. The program facilitated more than 130,000 HIV tests in 2007 and confirmed 1,691 HIV positive cases.

NHTD is an annual campaign produced by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US) that encourages at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.

Despite recent advances in treatment and prevention, HIV and AIDS remain leading causes of illness and death in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that an estimated one million Americans are living with HIV and a quarter of these individuals are unaware of their infection. HIV testing gives people an opportunity to know their status and take appropriate measures to protect their health and the health of others.

In observance of the day, the HIV Unit will also participate in NHTD events, alongside local health counterparts and community HIV/AIDS service providers, by providing health fairs and hosting testing-related events.

During National HIV Testing Day, organizers will also reach out to communities at increased risk of HIV infection, including African-American and Latino populations, both of which are disproportionately affected with HIV when compared to other demographic groups in the U.S.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

MapHIV.org Shows 18% of Georgia's Counties are Seriously Impacted by HIV

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Minority Quality Forum today launched a groundbreaking HIV/AIDS Atlas (http://www.maphiv.org/) that highlights the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in communities across the United States. The Atlas makes information on HIV/AIDS prevalence rates available in a single location for the first time, painting a comprehensive picture of the varying intensity of the epidemic across the country.

Georgia has 20 counties with AIDS prevalence rates of 0.248 percent or greater, according to the Atlas, and 25 counties with HIV (non-AIDS) prevalence rates of 0.38 percent or greater. These counties are placed in the red or dark red zones depicted on the Atlas, indicating they are among the counties with the highest prevalence rates in the United States.

The HIV/AIDS Atlas is being released in advance of National HIV Testing Day (June 27), to highlight the growing need for increased HIV screening efforts in communities that are suffering disproportionately from the disease. Currently, 20 percent of HIV-positive Americans -- approximately 220,000 individuals -- are unaware of their infection. People with undiagnosed HIV infection are not receiving life-saving therapies, and it is estimated that they may unknowingly transmit up to 70 percent of new infections in the United States.

"We began this project with a desire to fill a fundamental gap in public access to HIV/AIDS information," said Gary Puckrein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Minority Quality Forum. "Mapping the disease made visible health disparity zones around the country. It is an important step in increasing awareness and stemming the tide of the epidemic. Now that we can see more clearly where the problem is, we can improve data collection and analysis, prevention initiatives, early diagnosis and routine testing efforts in the hardest hit communities."

Highlights from the Atlas include the following:

-- The HIV/AIDS epidemic is concentrated in approximately 20 percent of
American counties (556 counties of the 3,027 counties for which data
were provided to the National Minority Quality Forum).
-- The HIV/AIDS epidemic is widespread among two-thirds of the
predominantly minority counties (comprising African Americans,
Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders) for which data were provided
to National Minority Quality Forum.


Using cutting-edge technology, the National Minority Quality Forum developed the HIV/AIDS Atlas from data provided by HIV/AIDS surveillance branches within state and territorial departments of health in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and New York City. The Atlas presents county-level prevalence rates based on the reported numbers of people living with HIV (non-AIDS) and AIDS in 2006. Users of the Atlas can map available data in multiple ways, including by age, gender and race/ethnicity. They can also view their congressional and state legislative districts overlaid on the county-level HIV/AIDS prevalence maps.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page

AHF/Magic Johnson Testing Van Teams with AID Atlanta, Inc. for Free HIV Testing Event Today

On Monday, June 22^nd AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest non-profit AIDS organization, will partner with AID Atlanta, Inc. to provide free HIV testing through a mobile HIV testing van in the parking lot of Kroger’s Supermarket, 3030 Headland Drive, Atlanta, GA 30311 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

In an effort to boost AIDS awareness and HIV prevention and testing efforts in some of the hardest hit regions of the United States, AHF began a three week, fourteen-city cross country HIV testing caravan in one of its popular AHF Mobile HIV Testing Units, which are named in honor of and partnership with HIV positive basketball legend Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. and actor and AIDS advocate Blair Underwood. The tour kicked-off in Los Angeles on Monday, June 8^th and culminates with the mobile unit's arrival in Washington, DC on Saturday, June 27^th-National HIV Testing Day. AHF is permanently relocating one of the mobile testing units from Los Angeles to D.C., to provide free, easy-to-access rapid HIV testing in various neighborhoods throughout the nation's capital, where it was recently reported that the HIV prevalence rate has surged past 3%-higher than in Lagos, Nigeria.

As AHF staffers and HIV testing counselors drive the van from Los Angeles to Washington through many Southern and Eastern states, AHF's 'whistle stop' testing tour will seek to heighten awareness about HIV testing in local communities along the route.

"While making initial plans to transport our brand new, state-of-the-art AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing Unit from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, we hit upon the idea that this cross country road trip presented a unique opportunity to raise awareness about HIV testing, prevention and treatment through specific testing events and community outreach in cities and states along the way," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "As a result, AHF partnered with respected local AIDS and community groups in Phoenix, Albuquerque, Houston, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville, Atlanta, Columbia, South Carolina; Charlotte, Norfolk and Washington, DC to host free HIV testing and media events in each of these communities. At the end of the tour, the AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing Unit will remain and operate in Washington, where AHF will also open a free AIDS treatment clinic-our first in that city-later this summer."

"The beauty of these free mobile HIV testing vans is that AIDS Healthcare Foundation operates them right in the heart of the community-in parking lots of popular retail stores, nearby hip nightclubs and gathering spots, at church events-and they provide the testing, counseling and results all in one session, so people get their test results right away on the same day," said Blair Underwood, who attended the Los Angeles kick-off event. "It is important that people learn how to avoid becoming infected with HIV; or if they are infected, know their HIV status, and seek medical treatment, if needed. People really need to know their HIV status today. These HIV testing vans provide that opportunity for free in a friendly, no hassle way."

HIV Statistics in the United States

“Last August, the Centers for Disease Control released new data showing an alarming 40% increase in HIV infections in the US—56,000 new cases each year up from a previous estimate of 40,000 new cases annually,” said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Director of AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Public Health Division. “There is no doubt that the South is disproportionately affected by HIV and without adequate resources. On our trip we want to meet our colleagues in these cities, support agencies in providing testing and do what we can to raise awareness about the genuine need for HIV testing and treatment throughout the region. The number of new infections in the U.S. is absolutely unacceptable. We have a responsibility to do what we must to help those with HIV know their status and get linked into care.”

According to an HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation (“The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States,” updated, February, 2009, with statistics through 2007):

• Ten states account for 71% of AIDS cases reported since the beginning of the epidemic. Nine of these states also rank in the top 10 for newly reported cases. Three of the states that the AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing HIV testing Unit will visit on its tour—Texas, Florida, and Georgia—are among these top ten states; together, they account for 21% of the nation’s reported AIDS cases through the end of 2007—or 216,199 cumulative AIDS cases.

The Kaiser Fact Sheet also pointed out:

• (AIDS) case rates per 100,000 provide a different measure of the epidemic’s impact, since they reflect the concentration of cases after accounting for differences in population size across states. The District of Columbia has the highest AIDS case rate in the nation. Seven of the top 10 states by AIDS case rate are in the South. The AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile HIV Testing Unit tour will travel to and do HIV testing events in five of these Southern states and areas: Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and the District of Columbia.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page

Emory to Host World's Largest Collegiate Display of The Aids Memorial Quilt Dec. 1

Emory University will host an 800-panel display of The AIDS Memorial Quilt on World AIDS Day, Monday, Dec. 1. Sponsored by Emory Hillel, the fourth annual "Quilt on the Quad" will take place on the Emory quadrangle from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and will be the largest collegiate display and the second largest in the world that day.

The opening ceremony at 11 a.m. will feature a keynote talk by Emory alumnus and designer Kenneth Cole, chairman of the board of Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. and current chairman of amfAR, the world’s largest HIV/AIDS research organization. His talk will be followed by a public reading of all of the names remembered with a panel on The Quilt. In addition, two members of the Emory community will offer remarks about loved ones lost to AIDS and will announce intentions of creating new panels in their memory.

Service and Social Change Key for Cole

Cole was one of the first to use advertising campaigns to speak out about the issue of AIDS in 1985 and was one of the first board members of amfAR. He also is a founding member of Help USA, the largest provider of housing, jobs and services for the homeless in the United States.

The fall marks the 25th anniversary of Kenneth Cole Productions and the publication of "AWEARNESS: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference," a collection of 86 essays and conversations by individuals who have been inspired to do their part to effect meaningful social change. Earlier this year, Cole launched the AWEARNESS fund, a nonprofit initiative that encourages, empowers and supports acts of service, volunteerism and social change.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Vital for Younger Generations

Hosting the largest display of the Quilt on a college campus is especially relevant today, says Daniel Sperling, an Emory senior and one of the lead organizers of the event.

"Having the Quilt here again really stresses the fact that there needs to be a movement to lower infection rates among the younger generations," says Sperling. "With 38 percent of new infections occurring among the 13-29 age range, our generation is seeing the largest amount of new infections every year, and unfortunately this rate is continuing to rise. Activism and awareness are necessary to stop or at least prevent this epidemic, and hopefully Emory will be able to help in this fight for years to come."

Emory scientists and physicians also are at the forefront of research efforts to develop effective drugs and vaccines against HIV and AIDS. The Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) is an official National Institutes of Health CFAR site. More than 120 faculty throughout Emory are working on some aspect of HIV/AIDS prevention or treatment. Many of the scientists within the Emory Vaccine Center are focused on finding an effective vaccine against HIV, and more than 94 percent of HIV patients in the US on life saving antiviral therapy take a drug developed at Emory University. More information about Emory's programs in HIV/AIDS.

The Quilt as an 'American Treasure'

The NAMES Project Foundation, Inc. is the international curator of The AIDS Memorial Quilt, now headquartered in Atlanta. The foundation was established in 1987 as a non-governmental organization with the mission of preserving, caring for and using The AIDS Memorial Quilt to inspire action, heighten awareness and foster healing in the age of AIDS.

The entire quilt weighs 54 tons and includes more than 47,000 panels dedicated to more than 91,000 individuals. In the past 20 years, more than 18 million people have seen the quilt at displays around the world. In November 2005, the quilt was designated as one of "America's Treasures" and was awarded a "Save America's Treasures" federal grant that has established a conservation and preservation program for it.

For more information about "Quilt on the Quad," contact Michael Rabkin, director of Emory Hillel, at 404-727-2089 or michael@emoryhillel.org. In the event of rain, "Quilt on the Quad" will be held on the fourth floor of the Woodruff P.E. Center. Lead sponsors in addition to Emory Hillel include the Rosalyn & Kenneth Sperling Family Foundation, Emory's Center for AIDS Research, the Office of LGBT Life and the Office of the Dean of Emory Law School.

Emory Hillel is the center for Jewish campus life at Emory. It is a part of Hillels of Georgia, which is an affiliate agency of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and a beneficiary of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Emory Hillel is dedicated to engaging Jewish undergraduate and graduate students in meaningful Jewish experiences through compelling programs in the Emory University community.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page

UGA Health Center Commemorates World AIDS Day December 1

On Monday, Dec. 1, the University of Georgia Health Center will be organizing several events to commemorate World AIDS Day.

Student volunteers and staff from the UHC health promotion department will be on the Tate Student Center plaza from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. with information about HIV/AIDS prevention, free condoms and red ribbons.

There will be a World AIDS Day Service of Light and Reflection at the Presbyterian Student Center at 1250 S. Lumpkin Street in Athens at 7 p.m.

Sorority and fraternity houses have been encouraged to display large red ribbons, the symbol of AIDS awareness.

There will be a limited number of free rapid HIV tests offered to students at the health center. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 706/542-8690.

Currently over 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. World AIDS Day remembers the many people who have died fighting the disease. This is the 20th anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the first observed World AIDS Day. Since then, December 1 has been recognized by people all around the world. The red ribbon has been known as the symbol for support of this day.

One quarter of those who are HIV positive are not aware they have the virus. Getting and HIV test will help slow down the transmission. The University Health Center offers anonymous HIV counseling and testing throughout the year.

Additional information about World AIDS Day or information about HIV/AIDS can be found on the University Health Center website at www.uhs.uga.edu.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page

HHS/FDA Grants Tentative Approval for 75th Generic Anti-Retroviral Drug as Part of President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

The Food and Drug Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reached the milestone of the 75th anti-retroviral generic drug approved or tentatively approved as part of President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Marketed by Macleods Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, of Kachigam, Daman, in the Republic of India, the 75th drug is 150 milligram and 300 milligram tablets of generic lamivudine, a nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (nRTI), which blocks an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, important to HIV production. HIV-infected patients who take lamivudine with other anti-HIV treatments develop less opportunistic infections.

“HHS/FDA has helped save lives by making high quality, anti-retroviral generic drugs available quickly, at a lower cost, for those most in need under the President’s Emergency Plan," said Commissioner of Food and Drugs Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. "As we grant tentative approval for the 75th product, our efforts won't stop: we will continue to provide review of applications for safe and effective treatments for AIDS to combat this global concern."

“Tentative approval" means that although existing patents and/or marketing exclusivity prevent the approval of the product in the United States at this time, the product meets all of HHS/FDA's normal requirements for manufacturing quality and clinical safety and efficacy.

HHS/FDA performs all of its reviews of applications received in association with the Emergency Plan on an expedited basis; the agency reviewed this application for lamivudine tablets in less than six months. After receiving approval or tentative approval from HHS/FDA under this expedited process, a generic anti-retroviral passes quickly on to the pre-qualification list maintained by the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO), because of a confidentiality agreement that allows HHS/FDA to share data from its evaluations with the WHO team in Geneva. Generic anti-retrovirals given approval or tentative approval by HHS/FDA are also immediately eligible for procurement by recipients of grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

In 2003, President George W. Bush launched his Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to combat global HIV/AIDS – the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history. At that time, about 50,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa were receiving anti-retroviral treatment. Today, the Emergency Plan reaches more than 1.7 million worldwide with anti-retroviral treatment, the vast majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa, and supports care for more than 6.6 million people, including 2.7 million orphans and vulnerable children. To date, interventions funded by the Emergency Plan have allowed mothers to give birth to nearly 200,000 HIV-free children.

In 2004, HHS/FDA implemented an expedited process under the Emergency Plan to review individual, generic anti-retroviral (ARV) drug formulations, co-packaged versions of individual ARV drug formulations, and fixed-dose ARV combinations. The expedited process includes a commitment by HHS/FDA and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator to work closely with manufacturers before they submit a marketing application to HHS/FDA, especially those firms that have never previously submitted to the agency, and to conduct a priority assessment of those applications.

On July 30, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, which reauthorized and expanded the Emergency Plan for five additional years, from 2009 through 2013. The legislation authorizes up to $38 billion over five years for bilateral HIV/AIDS programs under the Emergency Plan, activities under the President’s Malaria Initiative, and bilateral U.S. Government international work against tuberculosis, as well as contributions to the Global Fund.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

A Good Ole Fashion Gospel Revival in Alpharetta to Support Two Very Worthy Causes

PRNewswire/ -- This praise and worship event which will serve as the 10th Annual Friends and Family concert presented by THP, Inc. will be a night to remember. The event, which promises to stir the soul, will take place at St. James United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 23rd starting at 7:00 pm. The church is located at 3000 Webb Bridge Road in Alpharetta. Tracey Harris has been quoted saying, "We will reach the masses spreading not only the good news in song and dance, but we will educate and bring awareness about issues plaguing the community: Child Abuse, Domestic Violence & AIDS. We will be that shining light providing health resources, parent resources, child development and community resources. We have placed these items at the forefront of our mission and focus."

A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Jerusalem House in Atlanta with a portion going toward their program for single adults. The program serves single homeless adult men and women who have AIDS. The balance will be used for the Family Program that helps children and their HIV positive single mothers who are homeless. The programs include:

-- Apartments for program participants.
-- Counseling, case management and resident plan development.
-- Personal care assistance when needed -- bathing, cleaning, preparing
meals, etc.
-- Access to an on-site learning center with computers and internet access
managed by the center coordinator.
-- Tutoring for children and mothers.
-- Support groups for both the mothers and children.
-- Recreational and social activities including monthly community
meetings.
-- Resident Advisory Committee.


THP, Inc. will also donate 30 tickets to the Roswell Senior Citizen Community Center for them to attend free of charge and participate in this evening of praise and worship.
For more information about the event or ticket sales go to www.mypraiseparty.com .

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page