Phila Hosts AIDS Strategy Update

PHILADELPHIA, PA - BEBASHI presents AIDS IN BLACK AMERICA: At The Crossroads-Successes, Challenges and Opportunities.
BEBASHI in partnership with the Black AIDS Institute, Magic Johnson Foundation, the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, and other local AIDS service organizations will host a Philadelphia update on major findings relevant to Black people from the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC) and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). The bi-annual IAC, held last month in Vienna Austria, is the largest convening in the world of HIV/AIDS science, treatment and prevention researcher, clinicians, advocates, and policymakers.

Last month, the Obama administration released the first national HIV/AIDS strategy in the United States. The vision of the NHAS is to create an environment create an environment in the United States where “new HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic circumstances, will have unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination”.

Details on the new National HIV/AIDS Strategy will be presented by James Albino, Senior Program Manager in the White House Office of National AIDS Policy. There will be a discussion on how the first U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy will impact the Black communities in America.

Information about the importance of HIV testing will be discussed as well as ways to improve and expand HIV testing in Black communities.

Other speakers include: Amy Nunn, ScD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research), Brown University Medical School Division of Infectious Diseases, Robin Stanback Stevens, PhD, MPH, Senior Research Associate, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Hassan Gibbs, Hassan J Gibbs, Philadelphia FIGHT,Helena KwaKwa, MD, PHMC Care Clinic, Susan B. Wyche, MBA, Regional Resource Consultant - Region III, US Department of Health and Human Services, Glenn Ellis, syndicated columnist National Newspaper Publisher’s Association and Jesse Milan Jr., Vice President of Altarum.

The event will take place tomorrow at the Parkway Central Library located at 1901 Vine Street (4th Floor, Skyline Room) Philadelphia, PA 19103. The event is free to the public and refreshments will be served.