Foundation Blog
News, commentary, and voices in the efforts to eliminate HIV and AIDS in children worldwide.
Posted by
Mara Gordon
Lilongwe, Malawi
April 12, 2011
(Photo: James Pursey)
For Teleza, getting tested for HIV was a new beginning.
She came to the antenatal clinic at Bwaila Hospital, a major maternity hospital in the capital city of Lilongwe, Malawi, when she was pregnant last year. She got tested for HIV for the first time there -- and when the result came back positive, Teleza says she felt like she could finally take control of her health.
“Believe it or not, I was relieved,” Teleza says. “I had been feeling ill for some time, and I was glad to learn why. My next step was to figure out how to deal with it.”
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Posted by
Evan Von Leer
Washington, D.C.
April 7, 2011
This week, the buzz in Washington, D.C. and around the country is all about the federal budget and the possibility of a government shutdown. Some members of Congress are calling for drastic cuts to foreign aid – as high as $800 million to HIV/AIDS programs worldwide.
Watch this short video to learn more about how much the federal government spends on these lifesaving programs.
U.S. Foreign Aid: Setting the Record Straight from EGPAF on Vimeo.
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Posted by
Jen Pollakusky
Washington, D.C.
April 7, 2011
While the U.S. Congress continues to debate cuts to the federal budget and a possible government shutdown on Friday, global health programs could still be on the chopping block.
What often gets lost in the debate is that global health programs represent just a fraction of the 1% of the budget spent on foreign assistance each year. Saving millions of lives around the world is a lot of return on such a small investment.
Members of Congress from across the aisle – both conservative and liberal – have expressed great concern about threatened cuts to these programs.
Click past the jump to hear a sample of what they’ve been saying, in their own words.
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Posted by
Rachel Hinger
Washington, D.C.
April 6, 2011
Participants at the Boston University
Dance Marathon prepare for 12-hours of
movin' and shakin'. (Photo: EGPAF)
As summertime looms on the horizon for colleges around the country, Dance Marathon season also starts to wrap up here at the Foundation. Dance Marathons are fundraisers sponsored by individual schools in partnership with the Foundation, all to raise money for the elimination of pediatric AIDS worldwide.
While this year’s Dance Marathons have all been impressive, last weekend was a special bi-coastal celebration.
Foundation Development Coordinator Rachel Hinger hopped across the country from the UC-Berkeley Dance Marathon on April Fools' Day over to the Boston University Dance Marathon all in a span of 24 hours.
Click past the jump to read her first-hand recap of both of the Dance Marathons, and to learn more about how you can start one of your own.
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Posted by
Robert Yule
Washington, D.C.
April 1, 2011
This week we’re reading articles from Foundation representatives about the potentially harmful effects of U.S. budget cuts to successful programs preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in Africa.
The Houston Chronicle published two op-eds, one written by Foundation Ambassador Fortunata Kasege urging Americans to continue supporting these programs, and a second urging the state legislature to preserve funding for Texans living with HIV.
Also this week, Foundation’s Country Director for Uganda Dr. Edward Bitarakwate was interviewed by Voice of America about the success of U.S.-funded prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs in his country.
Click past the jump for a more in-depth look at these stories, and to take action to continue supporting these lifesaving programs.
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Posted by
Jen Pollakusky
Washington, D.C.
March 29, 2011
Dr. Anneke Hesseling and Foundation
Director of Clinical and Basic Research
Dr. Jeffrey Safrit. (Photo: EGPAF)
Last week marked World Tuberculosis (TB) Day – a day to raise awareness of the dangerous spread of TB worldwide, particularly among children and families living with HIV.
Dr. Anneke Hesseling – Director of the Pediatric TB Research Program at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in South Africa, and a recipient of our International Leadership Award (ILA) for research – visited the Foundation’s D.C. offices to update us on the promising results of her work focused on children with both TB and HIV, two intertwined issues.
Preventing and treating TB infection in women and children is an important and vital step in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As the leading cause of death among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, TB affects millions around the globe every year.
Click past the jump for more and to watch a video of Dr. Hesseling discussing childhood tuberculosis.
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