Talking to Kids About the Hard Stuff: Disclosing HIV Status in Zambia

Posted by Robert Yule
Washington, D.C.
August 26, 2010

A mom and her baby in Zambia

Telling a child that he or she is HIV-positive can be one of the most difficult conversations for a family to have. But not disclosing HIV status at the appropriate time can have negative effects on keeping children healthy both physically and mentally. It can also break down the trust between child, family, and caregiver that is necessary to manage a chronic disease.

Susan Strasser, the Foundation’s Acting Country Director in Zambia, shared her experiences at the AIDS 2010 conference in Vienna about training counselors and health providers on how to talk to children and families about this issue, and how to help families have this important conversation when the time is right.

Foundation Partners with Global Health Corps to Improve Health Capacity in Malawi

Posted by Robert Yule
Washington, D.C.
August 17, 2010

The Foundation has recently partnered with the Global Health Corps to strengthen health services for HIV/AIDS in Malawi.

Headed by Barbara Bush, the daughter of former President George W. Bush, the GHC recruits, trains, and supports future leaders in the global health world.

The partnership has placed two GHC fellows, one Malawian and one American, to work in the Foundation’s Malawi program for one year.

What We're Reading: Sen. Lugar urges President to sustain PEPFAR commitment; Nurses critical to providing HIV prevention, care and treatment

Posted by Robert Yule
Washington, D.C.
August 13, 2010

On the second anniversary of the bipartisan reauthorization of PEPFAR, one of its key champions, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), wrote the following letter to President Obama to ensure that the U.S. HIV/AIDS response is not diminished as it’s incorporated into the administration’s broader Global Health Initiative.

Also this week, AIDSMap covered a letter co-authored by Senior Foundation Technical Officer Suzanne Willard and published in the July 31 online edition of AIDS about the importance of nurses in the implementation of new HIV treatment guidelines issued by the WHO.

Foundation Releases Toolkit to Help Implement New WHO Guidelines on HIV Prevention and Treatment

Posted by Robert Yule
Vienna, Austria
July 24, 2010

The World Health Organization has just released recommendations that reflect the latest scientific evidence for preventing new HIV infections in infants, and treating children, adolescents, and adults living with the virus.

In the past, there have been significant delays and challenges in adopting WHO guidelines at the country level. To accelerate and improve the process, the Foundation has produced a three-part toolkit to assist its technical partners and Ministries of Health.

Bill Gates Highlights the Elimination of Pediatric AIDS at Vienna Conference

Posted by Robert Yule
Vienna, Austria
July 19, 2010

At the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna today, the prevention of new HIV infections in children took center stage. In a session moderated by Foundation President and CEO Chip Lyons, Bill Gates praised the Foundation’s global efforts, and spoke about the urgent need to expand the reach of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Tools for Journalists Covering the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna

Posted by Robert Yule
Vienna, Austria
July 15, 2010

Every two years, the International AIDS Conference brings together more than 20,000 participants – including researchers, health professionals, policymakers, civil society, and people living with HIV – to review progress in the global fight against the AIDS pandemic.

For those journalists in attendance and those covering events from afar, the Foundation has prepared a Journalist Toolkit for reporting on efforts to eliminate pediatric HIV and AIDS.