The Thursday Morning eNEWS

I am very pleased to be back with you on a weekly basis. I would like to thank those of you that sent some rather nice e-mails regarding this publication and pledge to continue to do my best to keep you current on cutting edge and/or informative issues facing the HIV/AIDS community. Please make note of FRIENDS new phone/FAX number (313)887-9104 and new e-mail address friendsa@comcast.net. I hope to hear of your upcoming events and news as it happens. As you can see, the formatting has not yet changed; but I hope you enjoy reading anyways!

The FRIENDS Alliance website is in the process of being reconstructed and should be available at www.friendsalliance.org. Check the website for the 2007 PWH/A Pocket Reference Guide (THIS EDITION WILL NOT CONTAIN ALL OF THE UPDATES YOU HAVE SENT TO ME, BUT THEY ARE IN PROGRESS) and complete support group listing.

Happenings

May 12           Saturday, 5pm - Jet Theater show: Inspector Calls 

                        We have complementary tickets to the Jet Theater for THIS Saturday for the show Inspector Calls, curtain time is 5:00PM.  If you would like to go, simply send your name to reservations@wingsmi.org as soon as possible so that we can have tickets for you at the Will Call desk.

May 14           5-7pm DirectRx Motivational Mondays Community Resources for HIV Individuals To be held at Kresge Eye Institute Classroom D (in Basement) Learn about resources available in the community for you!  We have invited non-profit HIV organizations to bring information on the services they provide to the community!  Don't miss out on this opportunity! Light Refreshments Provided.  Please call Jennifer VanNuil 800-422-3227 Ext 461 with questions or if you would like to attend.

May 18           Friday -  Asians & Friends Bar Party

On the National Asian / Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness and Testing Day, Midwest AIDS Prevention Project’s (MAPP) annual :Friday May 18th 2007, 9 pm to 2 am, Soho Martini Bar, W. Nine Mile Road  Downtown Ferndale. Everyone welcome  Free HIV testing/ gift cards and prizes…drink specials / music / videos. For information call 248.545.1435 ayee@aidsprevention.org or www.asiansandfriendsMI.org

May 22           Fuzeon Empowerment Group Presented by Midwest AIDS Prevention Project (MAPP) Please join the Fuzeon empowerment group for the first meeting of the year! Learn how you can achieve success with Fuzeon with speaker Bill Taylor Moderated by Brenda Stapleton of Roche Labs On Tuesday, May 22 - 2007at Como’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, 22812 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, MI, 48220 Food will be provided. Space is limited - You MUST Register For more information or to register call: (248) 545-1435 ext. 111

June 23         Twenty Fifth Annual Detroit Together Men’s Chorus Spring Concert details and tickets at www.dtmc.org

June 3           Motor City Pride, Ferndale www.pridesource.com

June 30         Lansing Pride March www.michiganpride.org

July 8             28^th Annual Metra Picnic www.metramagazine.com

Sept 16          AIDS Walk Detroit www.aidswalkdetroit.org

In the News

Illinois House Considers Bill That Would Remove Written Consent Requirement for HIV Tests

Manier, Chicago Tribune, 5/1

The Illinois House is considering a bill (HB 980) that would remove a state requirement that people receiving HIV tests provide written consent prior to undergoing the test, the Chicago Tribune reports. According to the Tribune, the bill would enact recommendations released last year by CDC that say HIV tests should be part of routine medical care for people ages 13 to 64 and that requirements for written consent and pretest counseling should be dropped. The measure also would rescind part of the state's AIDS Confidentiality Act, which was passed in the 1980s, that states people cannot be tested for HIV without their knowledge.Advocates from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago are opposed to the bill and have said that counseling still should be available before and after testing to ensure people understand the results and have access to treatment, if necessary, according to the Tribune. Ann Fisher, executive director of ALCC, said that written consent is a "way of proving" patients have received counseling. John Peller, director of state affairs for AFC, said if tests are not done correctly, people "could really be alienated from the health care system." He added that for many people, "there's still a tremendous, deep stigma about testing positive for HIV." Fisher added that she is concerned people might receive HIV tests without their knowledge.Officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health after hearing the concerns raised by HIV/AIDS advocates said they would work with state Rep. LaShawn Ford (D), the bill's sponsor, to add language to the bill that would clarify the need for pre- and post-test counseling and verbal consent prior to testing, the Tribune reports. The CDC recommendations say that people "must not be tested without their knowledge." In addition, the CDC recommendations call for creating an "opt-out" provision so people could choose not to receive the test.Supporters of the bill say it would help the estimated 10,000 Illinois residents who are unaware they are HIV-positive learn their status and receive access to treatment. Rep. Mary Flowers (D), a bill co-sponsor, said, "We can live with HIV as opposed to dying from it. But you have to know you have it, and the only way to do that is to get tested." The House could vote on the bill this week, the Tribune reports.

HHS Should Enforce Federal Law That Abstinence Education Programs Teach 'Medically Accurate' Information, ACLU Letter Says

Wetzstein, Washington Times, 4/27

The American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States and Advocates for Youth on Thursday sent a letter to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt saying that the agency should enforce a federal law that states abstinence education must include "medically accurate" information about condom effectiveness, the Washington Times reports. John Santelli, a pediatrician and professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, in a 20-page analysis accompanying the letter wrote that some federally funded abstinence-only programs cite an outdated 1993 study that found condoms failed to prevent HIV infection 31% of the time during heterosexual sex, the Washington Post reports. According to Santelli, recent studies have shown that an HIV-negative person reduces the risk of contracting HIV from an HIV-positive partner by 80% to 87% if condoms are always used during sexual intercourse. Santelli's analysis also shows that programs use incorrect data for the risk of an unintended pregnancy resulting after sexual intercourse using a condom and for the likelihood a condom will break or fall off during intercourse. According to the letter, this was signed by Ava Barbour and Julie Sternberg of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, three federally funded abstinence education programs, an HHS Web site and a pamphlet “all violate a federal law requiring certain educational materials to contain medically accurate information about condom effectiveness”.

More MSM Practicing Sero-Sorting To Prevent HIV; MSM in Committed Relationships Less Likely To Practice Risky Behaviors, Studies Say

Russell, San Francisco Chronicle, 4/27

An increasing number of men who have sex with men in San Francisco are practicing sero-sorting -- in which people who know their HIV status search for partners of the same status -- as a way to protect against HIV, according to a study published Friday in the American Journal of Public Health, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. According to the Chronicle, sero-sorting evolved among MSM "without the kind of institutional support given to programs" that promote condom use and a reduction in sexual partners. The study authors, Dennis Osmond and colleagues at the University of California-San Francisco, found that 27% of MSM in San Francisco reported practicing sero-sorting in 2002, up from 19% in 1997. Forty percent of study participants ages 18 to 29 reported sero-sorting in 2002, the study found. The researchers also found that higher-risk sexual behaviors have increased among MSM, with the highest risk concentrated among men ages 30 to 50. Researchers found that the percentage of men reporting unprotected anal intercourse with a partner of different or unknown HIV status increased from 9% in 1997 to nearly 15% in 2002. The study also found that 27% percent of MSM in San Francisco were HIV-positive in 2002, compared with 20% in 1997. According to the Chronicle, the increase in HIV prevalence among MSM is "not surprising" because the study was conducted during a period when new antiretroviral drugs became available, which helped to "dramatically" reduce HIV/AIDS-related deaths. In a second study, Sandra Schwarcz and colleagues at the San Francisco Department of Public Health also found that about 25% of MSM in the city are HIV-positive, the Chronicle reports. Schwarcz also found that MSM in committed relationships are less likely to practice risky sexual behaviors with each other than partners in more casual relationships. Mitch Katz, director of the health department and a study co-author, said the study shows a deviation in behavior from the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, when the risk of transmission was highest among MSM in committed relationships. "The higher risks occurred with the more intimate relationships," he said, adding, "People took their highest risk with their closest partner." Both studies were conducted by telephone surveys among thousands of randomly selected men.

HHS Awards $26.8M To Provide HIV/AIDS Care Services to Low-Income Individuals, Families in South Carolina, Senators Say

AP/Charlotte Observer, 4/25

South Carolina will receive a $26.8 million grant from HHS to provide HIV-positive people in the state with increased access to treatment and care services, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said in a statement released on Wednesday, the AP/Charlotte Observer reports. According to Graham and DeMint, $25.6 million will be allocated to provide low-income individuals and families in the state with access to treatment. The funding likely will remove people from the waiting list for the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program – a federal- and state-funded program that provides HIV/AIDS-related medications to low-income, uninsured and underinsured HIV-positive individuals. As of March, 463 people were on South Carolina's ADAP waiting list, making it the longest such list nationwide, to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. The remaining $1.2 million will be given to three South Carolina community health centers for a variety of uses -- including risk-reduction counseling and ongoing health services for HIV-positive people -- according to the statement. Thom Berry, a spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, said the grant "will assist, especially in the area of the local community programs, because these are programs that have been cut in the past," adding, "This will help to restore some of the funding that has been lost".

Rep. Waters Introduces Bill That Would Require Federal Prisons To Provide Inmates With HIV Testing, Treatment, Counseling

Baertlein, Reuters, 4/23

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) recently introduced a bill (HR 1943) that would require federal prisons to provide inmates with HIV tests at the beginning and end of their incarcerations, CQ HealthBeat reports. The bill also would require federal prisons to provide inmates with HIV/AIDS counseling, and inmates who test positive would receive access to comprehensive treatment. Although some state prisons require routine HIV testing among inmates and provide treatment access, federal prisons currently do not, according to CQ HealthBeat (Blinkhorn, CQ HealthBeat, 4/24). The bill also includes a provision that would allow inmates to opt out of testing (HR 1943 text, 4/24). Under guidelines released in June 2006 by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons, prisoners can request HIV tests, and prison medical workers are encouraged to conduct tests among inmates who exhibit symptoms of HIV. Under a 2005 policy statement issued by the bureau, HIV tests are mandatory in some cases, and prisoners cannot refuse to be tested. Waters last year introduced a similar bill as part of a campaign to address HIV/AIDS among blacks, who account for a disproportionate share of the country's prison inmates. According to a study released in 2005 by researchers at the University of California-Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy, government data indicates that in 1996, more than 50% of prisoners in the U.S. were black. The researchers also found that the increase of HIV/AIDS cases among blacks since the 1980s, most notably among women, corresponds with the increase in the proportion of black men in prison (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 9/12/06). "Testing is ultimately the key," Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), co-sponsor of the bill, in a statement said, adding, "If people know their status, they can take the steps to protect themselves and their partners."

Businesses Should Become More Involved in Fight Against HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, New Global Fund Director Says

MacInnis, Reuters, 4/23

Businesses should become increasingly involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria because only 5% of the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria's income comes from the private sector, new Global Fund Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine said on Monday, Reuters reports. "Certainly, the private sector can increase its contributions," Kazatchkine said, adding, "The needs are enormous." In addition to monetary pledges, businesses could offer personnel or other in-kind donations to support HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria programs in developing countries, Kazatchkine said. He added that they also could help sponsor specific programs in countries where they operate. Kazatchkine did not say if pharmaceutical companies should be called on to provide drug donations, adding that the Global Fund's governing board plans to discuss the issue later this year. "It is an area to explore, but obviously, there are potential conflicts of interest," he said, adding, "I would primarily expect companies to try to decrease their prices rather than maintain high prices and provide in-kind donations of drugs." According to Kazatchkine, one of his priorities as Global Fund executive director will to be secure increasingly reliable funding for the organization. He added that reliable funding is particularly important for HIV/AIDS programs because HIV-positive people need to adhere to their treatment regimens to avoid developing drug resistance. "We need the resources to be sustainable," Kazatchkine said, adding, "We will be looking particularly at whether donors can commit for longer periods of time." According to Kazatchkine, last year's donation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as contributions from Product RED, are positive steps in expanding the Global Fund's resources.

Nurses Sentenced to Death in Libyan HIV Infection Case Could Be Released Soon, Ambassador Says

Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/24

Five Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death for allegedly intentionally infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV could be released from prison by the end of June, German Ambassador to Bulgaria Michael Geier said on Thursday, Reuters Africa reports (Reuters Africa, 4/26). The nurses and one Palestinian doctor in May 2004 were sentenced to death by firing squad for allegedly infecting 426 children through contaminated blood products at Al Fateh Children's Hospital in Benghazi, Libya. They also were ordered to pay a total of $1 million to the families of the HIV-positive children. The Libyan Supreme Court in December 2005 overturned the medical workers' convictions and ordered a retrial in a lower court. A court in Tripoli, Libya, in December 2006 convicted the health workers and sentenced them to death. The health workers say they are innocent of the charges, claiming that they were forced to confess and that they were tortured by Libyan officials during interrogations. The health workers also have been charged with slander by three Libyan police offers and one doctor.

Medically Speaking

FDA Panel Recommends Agency Approve Pfizer's Antiretroviral Maraviroc

Wall Street Journal, 4/25

An FDA panel of outside experts on Tuesday unanimously recommended that the agency approve Pfizer's antiretroviral drug maraviroc, the Wall Street Journal reports. Pfizer has proposed using maraviroc to treat people with advanced HIV or AIDS who have not responded to other medications, according to the Journal (Corbett Dooren, Wall Street Journal, 4/25). Maraviroc works by blocking a protein, called CCR5, on human immune system cells that HIV uses as a portal to enter and infect the cell. Pfizer plans to offer the drug with a test developed by Monogram Biosciences that determines if people likely will respond to the treatment. FDA last week ahead of the panel's meeting on Tuesday raised concerns that maraviroc could be associated with an increased risk of liver damage, lymphoma and infections. According to FDA, other CCR5 inhibitors under development have been shown to increase safety risk issues. Pfizer said its studies have shown that maraviroc has no significant effect on the heart and did not increase the incidence of liver problems, cancer or infection compared with other HIV/AIDS drugs. Although FDA "continues to be concerned about potential safety issues with the entire class of drugs," some agency reviewers have noted no increases in lymphomas or infections among people taking maraviroc. FDA reviewers have noted a "modest" increase in liver problems among people taking the drug. Pfizer has proposed selling maraviroc under the brand name Celsentri (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/23). The 12-member FDA panel said that post approval studies should look for blood cancers and heart and liver problems. According to the Journal, some panel members said they are concerned that maraviroc studies have been conducted primarily among white men (Wall Street Journal, 4/25). The panel recommended that Pfizer conduct studies of maraviroc's interaction with other drugs and its effects on women and minorities, the AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. The panel also expressed concern that maraviroc could accelerate HIV mutations. According to the AP/Sun-Sentinel, people taking maraviroc likely would need to be monitored to ensure the drug is not accelerating mutations (AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 4/25). In two primary clinical trials conducted among more than 1,000 participants, maraviroc was found to decrease viral loads to undetectable levels in 45% of participants after 24 weeks, compared with 23% of those who did not take maraviroc, the Journal reports. Pfizer has said it will continue studies of maraviroc for five years after approval. FDA likely will complete its evaluation of maraviroc by the end of June, according to Katie Laessing, a team leader in FDA's antiviral products division.

Job Postings

Community Health Awareness Group: Standard/Intensive Case Manager Job Opening

Community Health Awareness Group, an African American AIDS organization, is seeking applicants for a full time Standard/Intensive Case Manager. Duties include identifying, screening, assessing, and developing service delivery plans for persons with HIV, with an emphasis on those with chronic mental health and/or substance abuse problems. Direct clients to needed services, coordinate and monitor access to and delivery of quality services, and provide client advocacy when necessary. Current Michigan driver’s license and reliable personal transportation required. Computer and typing fluency required. Applicant must have a MSW or related Masters, preferably with experience in mental health, substance abuse, and/or medical field. Send resume and cover letter/salary requirements to 1300 W. Fort, Detroit, MI, 48226 Attn: S. Hargrave or via email to sfraz313@yahoo.com .

PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER:

Join a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team in an exciting new program integrating mental health and medical services in an adult HIV outpatient academic medical clinic in Detroit.  Primary responsibilities include psychiatric evaluations, consultations, medication management and psychotherapy.  Part-time position, may include full benefits.  Fax or e-mail resume and cover letter to Laura Zanchetta (313-993-3997, lzanchet@med.wayne.edu).

Prevention Specialist /Patient Advocate –

WSU/DMC is looking for a person with experience working in the HIV community to apply for Patient Advocate/Prevention Specialist position which is currently vacant.  WSU requires a Bachelor degree and MDCH HIV Test Counseling Certification is preferred.  We are hoping to find a person that can work independently as well as be part of a dynamic team in the clinic setting.  Applicants must apply online at the Wayne State University site (http://jobs.wayne.edu ) and enter posting no. 033469.  Please call Skip McClatchey if there are any questions.

Project Director

AIDS Partnership Michigan seeks a Project Director for a community level prevention intervention project targeting young men of color who have sex with men and ancillary HIV CTR services.  Responsibilities include ensuring the tailoring and translation of the intervention to the target population, program implementation, operation, data collection and reporting. Primary liaison to CDC, the Ruth Ellis Center and other stakeholders. Minimum of BA/BS degree in a human services discipline, working knowledge of issues affecting young men of color who have sex with men including key life contextual issues, individual, interpersonal, social and cultural factors, community organizing and social marketing skills or experience.  Send resume and cover letter to: Associate Executive Director, AIDS Partnership Michigan, 2751 E. Jefferson, Ste 301, Detroit, MI 48207 or email to millbourne@aidspartnership.org

Detroit Community Health Connection

Nutritionist

Provide nutritional education and suggested dietary modification to patients. Provide in-service and nutrition education to staff. Assesses the nutrition status of patients through the integration of anthropometrics, biochemical, and clinical and dietary information. Creates and completes care plan to address and identify nutritional problems, utilizing both problem oriented protocols and other procedures including referrals to other providers, programs or other agencies as indicated. Develops and updates patient education material for use by the patients. Assists community groups and organizations in planning and implementing nutrition related activities. Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Food Service, Community Health, or related field. Registered Dietitian with American Dietetic Association (ADA) Minimum of one year in nutritionist capacity in an ambulatory setting.

LPN    (Bi-Lingual)

Responsibilities: A Growing and Progressive JCAHO accredited Community Health Center located in the Detroit area, has an immediate opening for a full time Staff Nurse for busy primary care practice in a patient friendly ambulatory setting; Requirements: Certification and State Registration required plus 1 yr exp. in ambulatory setting.

Compensation: DCHC offers competitive wages and benefits including medical insurance, dental care, tuition reimbursement, 403B Retirement plan, paid vacation time and personal and sick days.

Portia Mitchell, MLR/HR, Director of Human Resources, Detroit Community Health Connection, Inc.   http://dchcquality.org, 13901 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI, 48215 (313) 821-2591 x 3119; FAX (313) 822-4202 E-mail:  Portiam@dchcquality.org