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.

Mothers Deserve Better

Posted by Dr. Joseph Essombo
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
August 12, 2010

For years, Foundation Country Director for Côte d’Ivoire Joseph Essombo has been an advocate for free or affordable basic antenatal care for women, and for the creation of more mother-friendly maternity wards that would encourage pregnant women to deliver in health facilities. The need for these services was never more apparent than on a recent trip to Eibikro N'dakro primary health facility in the district of Ayamé.

Helping Women Living with HIV Plan Their Families: Forwarding the Research Agenda

Posted by Elizabeth Flanagan
Washington, D.C.
August 10, 2010

The decision to start a family is a joyful one for most women, but also comes with some anxiety – will my pregnancy be normal? Will my child be healthy? For women living with HIV, particularly in resource-limited settings, these concerns are even more critical.

A new report addressing these concerns issued by the Harvard Program on International Health and Human Rights and the WHO was just unveiled in Vienna at the 2010 International AIDS Conference. It outlines a research agenda to support HIV-positive women and their partners to plan for healthy families and futures.

Program helps to break myths of HIV, improve quality of life for positive people

Posted by Eric Kilongi
Nairobi, Kenya
August 5, 2010

During a recent trip to Eastern Kenya, Foundation Senior Regional Communications Officer Eric Kilongi, came across the inspiring story of Chrispus and his HIV-positive wife, Esther. The parents of two-year-old Brian and seven-month-old Diana, Chrispus and Esther participate in a Foundation program titled "Zingatia Maisha"-- or in Kiswahili, "carefully consider life," which helps to increase the understanding of HIV as a manageable condition, break barries associated with the virus, and bring more people into treatment.

Maternal and Child Health at the 15th African Union Summit

Posted by Jen Pollakusky
Nairobi, Kenya
July 30, 2010

African leaders from across the continent came together to discuss the importance of maternal and child health and other issues at the 15th African Union summit, which took place from July 19 – 27 in Kampala, Uganda. The theme of the 2010 summit, Maternal, Infant, and Child Health and Development in Africa, was a significant opportunity for heads of state to discuss important health issues affecting women and children across Africa, including HIV and AIDS.

Jake Glaser Sits Down with CNN's Sanjay Gupta

Posted by Evan Von Leer
Washington, D.C.
July 29, 2010

Jake Glaser, the son of Elizabeth Glaser, was recently invited to sit down with CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, to talk about his life as a young adult living with HIV, the Foundation’s global efforts to eliminate pediatric AIDS, and what it means to carry on his mother’s legacy.

*Update: Watch the video after the jump.

Jake Glaser talks CNN's Sanjay Gupta (Photo: CNN)