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Plenary Session: Challenges and Solutions
By Andrew Spieldenner, PhD
The second day opened with more discussion on the future of the epidemic. Dr. Javier Martinez-Picado reminded everyone about the importance of a cure. While discussing the current limits on curative research, he insisted that a safe, affordable, scalable cure had to remain a priority to end the epidemic. This was met with applause, especially from people living with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Nelly Mugo discussed the value of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in the new age of the epidemic. She insisted that PrEP is not meant to be lifelong; instead she described the use of PrEP within a season of vulnerability. For couples who feel that the need to have a baby outweighs HIV risk, this is during conception. The Prevention Tool box now includes condoms, tenofovir gels, PrEP, PEP, and male circumcision; she asked us to revisit and revise how we prioritize our tools to deliver relevant combinations. In South Africa, for example, 20% of HIV-positive individuals refuse treatment due to fear of side effects, stigma, and the potential for developing resistance. The prospect of not transmitting the disease is not enough.
The last two speakers approached the end of AIDS from a systems approach. Dr. Bernhard Schwartländer asked “what will it take to turn the tide?” He pointed out that public health must acknowledge and embrace change by focusing on conditions that drive infection and investing resources into the interventions that work. This means investing in ending discrimination, gender inequality and protecting vulnerable populations. He summarized the shift in resources that are required to end the epidemic. Dr. Howard Koh brought up the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s three main goals: to reduce infection, identify new infections and reduce health disparities for people living with HIV. He indicated that the country would continue to move in these directions, and hoped to continue the exchange with the global community.
Poster Presentation: Building Capacity of Communities to Address HIV Testing & Prevention Needs in Emerging Hispanic Population Localities
By Amber Channer
On Tuesday, July 24, Dr. Miriam Vega presented her study on building communities’ capacity to work with emerging Hispanic populations in the U.S. Across the United States, Latinos/Hispanics, the fastest growing minority group, have been disproportionately impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In response, the CDC has funded capacity building assistance (CBA) providers to support CBOs’ HIV prevention programming and enhance the HIV workforce. Dr. Vega’s presentation showed how the Commission’s tailored CBA model—C.H.A.N.G.E. – is helping to build capacity among CBOs serving emerging Hispanic/Latino communities. C.H.A.N.G.E. stands for: Customized; Holistic; Analytical; Networking; Grassroots; and Evaluatory (Vega 2009). Those visiting the poster appreciated the breakdown of the C.H.A.N.G.E. model approach and its effectiveness. They also voiced their appreciation for the graphic illustrations on Dr.Vega’s poster; the visual elements gave them an opportunity to see the correlation between the Hispanic/Latino population growth and the rate of HIV infections among this population over the past four years. Participants agreed with the need for more community mapping and evaluation in Hispanic/Latino localities to better assess both individual and community level needs. |
Guillermo Chacon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS, was interviewed about the opening of the conference by CNN en Español.
Documentary on HIV in the Southern United States, deepsouth, premiers at the International AIDS Conference
By Emily Klukas
On the evening of Monday, July 23, deepsouth, a poignant and beautifully shot documentary on the roots of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the southern U.S., premiered at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington D.C. Attendees included several of the people featured in the film, the director, activists and advocates, researchers and health care providers. The Commission’s Dr. Miriam Y. Vega participated as an expert panelist and shared her reactions and reflections on the film. “As Hillary Clinton said this morning, ‘we know the road we need to take’, and that road goes through the South” said Dr. Vega. “…with Latino communities growing so fast in the South, we can’t deny attention to the great need of these very marginalized communities.” Passionate responses came from the audience on how stigma and homophobia in the region are perpetuating this devastating illness. In response to the conversations at AIDS 2012 about biomedical advances paired with behavioral interventions, several audience members voiced their discontent in the lack of conversation around systemic characteristics that fuel the disease. Audience member Kellee Terrell of The Body.com summarized this frustration, saying that “science is sexy, dismantling oppression is not.” The discussion concluded with the hope to develop ways to further share the film with rural and urban communities around the U.S. to initiate honest and informed conversation on the often unspoken issues that fuel this epidemic including homophobia, oppression, poor infrastructure, racism, and stigma. To learn more about the film and screenings in your area, please visit www.deepsouthfilm.com. For more information on the Commission’s regional capacity building assistance project, Latinos in the Deep South, please contact Erik Valera at evalera@latinoaids.org.
The march titled “We Can End AIDS” held on July 24 called for a mobilization for economic justice and human rights.
Fellow marchers representing the Human Rights and Harm Reduction arm with the demand to “stop global criminalization of sex workers, drug users and people living with HIV/AIDS”.
Latino Commission of AIDS represented in the End the War on Women arm with the demand for “full access for women and LGBTQ to AIDS and reproductive health services worldwide”.
End the War on Women arm marching loud and proud down New York Avenue in Washington, DC.
Thousands marched to demand more funding to fight AIDS, and to keep the issue of HIV/AIDS relevant until we end AIDS.
Addressing the Psychosocial Support Needs of Transitioning Adolescents Living with HIV since Childhood: A Global Perspective
By Rachel Kennedy
Held July 23, this session explored the needs of adolescents living with HIV (ALWA) who were prenatally infected. The panel began with emotional and compelling videos made by adolescents living with HIV and focused on their everyday struggles with stigma, disclosure to friends, and coming out to their partners as a young person with HIV. Some issues specific to this population by the panel were difficulties with health care providers. Many of the speakers expressed frustration with their health care providers; as many doctors do not see young adults as sexual people and do not address the myriad sexual concerns ALWA face, especially in romantic relationships. Panelist Rena Greifinger, presented four recommendations for treating this population’s specific needs; provide psychosocial support that is holistic, intentional and sustainable; provide training and capacity building; critically involve adolescents living with HIV; and improve linkages to care and support.
Latinos & HIV-Goals and Opportunities to Transform the AIDS Response
By Melissa Faith Ramirez
At Tuesday’s Regional Session on Latin America, presenters spoke of the astounding number of individuals living with HIV in Latin America: 1.4 million. Of the newly infected, the majority are 15-25 years old. HIV incidence has remained stable, without significant reductions. Stigma and other structural barriers to treatment continue to fuel the epidemic and there is a wide consensus amongst the speakers that they must secure a better response to AIDS in Latin & South America with governments, the private sector and civil society all working together. Jesus Aguais, of Aid for AIDS International, highlighted his vision: “Mi sueño es ver a la comunidad latina unida desde Canadá hasta la Patagonia, en una sola campaña, bajo un solo continente, trabajando sin fronteras en beneficio de nuestra gente , desarrollando políticas de todos, por todos y para todos” [My dream is to see a Latino community from Canada to the Patagonia, under one campaign, under one continent, working without borders benefitting our people, developing policies by all, to all and for all”].
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