Foundation Blog
News, commentary, and voices in the efforts to eliminate HIV and AIDS in children worldwide.
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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Posted by
Robert Yule
Washington, D.C.
March 24, 2011
Since today is World Tuberculosis Day, we were reading a number of articles in the media dealing with the deadly twin infections of TB and HIV.
- Ambassador Eric Goosby authored a blog outlining the scope of the TB epidemic;
- the World Health Organization released a new report addressing the worst and most dangerous cases of the TB epidemic;
- PBS NewsHour examined TB in South Africa, a country hard hit by the TB and HIV epidemics;
- Anneke Hesseling, a 2007 recipient of the Foundation's International Leadership Award visited the Foundation's D.C. office to speak about the HIV/TB research that resulted from her award;
- and finally, IRIN PlusNews quoted Foundation senior technical advisor Dr. Lucy Mathu in an article about the importance of using community health workers to detect signs of children who might have TB.
Foundation Senior Media Affairs Manager Robert Yule took some time to summarize the day's coverage. Click past the jump for recaps and links.
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Posted by
John Sheeran
Washington, D.C.
March 24, 2011
The Foundation was greatly saddened yesterday upon learning of the passing of Hollywood icon and HIV/AIDS activist Elizabeth Taylor at the age of 79.
In the early 1980s, she was the first international celebrity to leverage her fame to call attention to the AIDS epidemic, which went on to claim countless lives around the world. She made it her personal mission to support and care for those suffering in silence and shame.
Click past the jump to learn more about her unwavering commitment to people affected by HIV/AIDS.
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Posted by
Cristina Pena
Washington, D.C.
March 22, 2011
Foundation Ambassador Cristina Pena in
front of the White House. (Photo: EGPAF)
Foundation Ambassador Cristina Pena recently had the honor of speaking at a White House panel discussion for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is being commemorated throughout the month. Hosted by the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), the panel discussion focused on challenges, obstacles, and health risks facing today's women and young girls, and recommendations for reducing the spread of HIV to this population. Read Cristina's blog post after the jump.
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