The Thursday Morning eNEWS

As we continue to rebuild our web-site into an interactive tool for the community’s use, we hope that you will visit it often. Updates that will occur on a weekly basis will be the community calendar, support group listing, PWH/A Guide on-line edition, and our new classified sections. We hope that you will use it as a resource often at www.friendsalliance.org

Happenings

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 3           AFFIRMATIONS Grand Opening official ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off on the mainstage at 2:00pm followed by an afternoon open house with tours. www.goaffirmations.org

June 30         Lansing Pride March www.michiganpride.org

June 30         SENIOR PROM Timewarp 2007 APM’s Annual Gala Benefit complete details and tickets at www.aidspartnership.org

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

July 14           Healing Our World from the Inside Out: Is a Compassionate Listening workshop building skills for communicating from the heart, even in the heat of conflict. It’s about people making peace in their families, communities, jobs and world. Participants cultivate: Compassion for themselves and other Freedom from judgment Balance in stressful relationships listening with the heart speaking from the heart Facilitated by Andrea Cohen July 14th, 10:00 - 6 pm, Sunday July 15th, 10 am - 5:00 pm, NEW Center, Suite 208, South, 1100 North Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Sliding scale: $150-$300. Registration: www.compassionatelistening.org/workshops.htm l   or 360-297-2280. Co-sponsor:  American Friends Service Committee’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Program-Michigan

July 30-31     2007 National Conference on Latinos and AIDS

The 2007 National Conference on Latinos and AIDS will take place July 30-31, in Miami Beach, Florida. The featured speaker this year is Rosie Perez. This conference is a national forum on HIV/AIDS for health professionals who provide care for Latino communities. It will help health care providers update their knowledge, skills, and attitudes about HIV/AIDS. The conference was also designed for healthcare media, federal and state legislators, AIDS service organization officers, social workers, pharmacists, nurses, peer counselors, church leadership, and corrections health care personnel. The aims of this conference are to inform participants about the epidemiology of HIV; current HIV research and guidelines; modern methods for the management of HIV; social and psychiatric concerns of HIV infected patients; and political issues, trends, and policy initiatives that impact HIV infected patients. Read more about the program schedule. Register online or get more information about this important event. View the printable conference brochure:

Sept 16          AIDS Walk Detroit www.aidswalkdetroit.org

In the News

Some Congressional Democrats Appear Reluctant To Enter Debate Over PEPFAR's Abstinence Funding Requirements, Wall Street Journal Reports

Wall Street Journal, 5/21

Some Democratic leaders in Congress are showing "signs" that they are reluctant to enter the debate over the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief's abstinence spending requirements, the Wall Street Journal reports (Phillips, Wall Street Journal, 5/21). By law, at least one-third of HIV prevention funds that focus countries receive through PEPFAR must be used for abstinence-until-marriage programs (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/2). Some HIV/AIDS advocates are calling on Democratic lawmakers to repeal the abstinence requirement in the upcoming foreign-aid spending bill, while supporters of the requirements are lobbying against the change, the Journal reports. According to the Journal, Democratic lawmakers "seem likely to push the issue off until later this year or even next year," when Congress is scheduled to reauthorize PEPFAR. The delay could mean that "any relaxation" in HIV/AIDS funding requirements might not take effect until 2009 or 2010, the Journal reports. Some advocates who oppose the abstinence spending requirements say that the rule diverts money from programs that promote condom use and provide access to antiretroviral drugs and HIV/AIDS care. Although "Democrats have the power to do the right thing," they "don't seem to be willing to do it," Jodi Jacobson -- executive director of the Center for Health and Gender Equity, a group that is leading efforts to repeal the spending requirements -- said, adding, "What is the point in being in the majority if you can't take action?" Opponents of the spending requirement also have pointed to recent studies, including an Institute of Medicine report that found congressional provisions about how to spend HIV/AIDS money hinders health professionals in the field. Another study, commissioned by HHS, found that abstinence-only programs in the U.S. have not impacted young people's sexual behavior.Supporters of the spending requirement say that without it, programs promoting abstinence until marriage and fidelity would not receive adequate resources. "Over time, we probably won't need (the provision), but for now, we still do," Ambassador Mark Dybul, who serves as the U.S. global AIDS coordinator and administers PEPFAR, said. Other supporters have cited Uganda as an example of a country that has successfully reduced its HIV/AIDS prevalence by promoting abstinence and fidelity. Stephen Colecchi -- director of the Office of International Justice and Peace at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which supports abstinence programs -- said that in this case, "the morally right thing is also the efficacious approach." According to the Journal, HIV/AIDS advocates have some "well-placed allies" in Congress, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and House Appropriations Committee, respectively. Feinstein has said that the requirement is "squeezing out" available funding for other HIV prevention efforts, such as those aimed at preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission and maintaining a healthy blood supply. Lee also has introduced a bill that would eliminate the abstinence requirement. An unnamed White House spokesperson declined to say whether President Bush would veto legislation that relaxes abstinence spending requirements but added that the administration would "certainly fight to maintain a balanced approach" to HIV prevention funds. Some advocates also are calling for the repeal of a U.S. policy that requires recipients of federal HIV/AIDS service grants to pledge to oppose commercial sex work, the Journal reports.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Renews Goal To Reverse Spread of HIV by 2015

AP/International Herald Tribune, 5/21

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday at a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly to review the body's response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic said he believes it is possible to halt and reverse the spread of the disease by 2015, despite the increasing number of cases worldwide, the AP/International Herald Tribune reports. U.N. member countries last year renewed pledges and set new targets to provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services by 2010. In addition, one of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals calls for stopping and reversing the spread of HIV by 2015. Ban at the meeting said that ensuring access to treatment, prevention, care and support services is "critical" to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Ban added that fighting the disease worldwide will remain a U.N. priority and that he will work to ensure funding for prevention and treatment services. Ban also said providing treatment for diseases associated with HIV, such as tuberculosis, and researching vaccines and microbicides are necessary to reduce the spread of the virus. Ban added that meeting U.N. targets "means mustering the political will to address the factors that drive the epidemic -- including gender inequality, stigma and discrimination" (Hindy, AP/International Herald Tribune, 5/21).According to a report submitted by Ban to the general assembly on Monday, progress has been made in moving toward universal access to antiretroviral drugs and in expanding care and prevention services. The report noted that despite progress, the number of HIV-positive people has increased in every region of the world since 2005, Xinhuanet reports (Xinhuanet, 5/21). About two million HIV-positive people worldwide, or 28% of the 7.1 million people in need, had access to antiretrovirals in 2006, up from 700,000 in 2005, according to the report. According to U.N. estimates, $18 billion will be needed in 2007 and $22 billion will be needed in 2008 to meet the U.N. goal of providing universal access to prevention and treatment services in low- and middle-income countries. U.N. General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa at the meeting said that an increasing number of women are affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide, adding that the disease has a destructive impact on their lives. "Many women would rather not get the treatment they need to save their lives or stop their children from contracting HIV/AIDS because they do not want, or do not know how, to cope with the fear and stigma of HIV/AIDS," she said. Ban on Monday also appointed Elizabeth Mataka, executive director of the Zambia National AIDS Network, as special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, the AP/Herald Tribune reports. Ban also renewed appointments for Nafis Sadik as envoy for Asia, Lars Kallings as envoy for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and George Alleyne as envoy for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Population Council To Distribute Comic Books Aimed at Increasing HIV/AIDS Awareness in Four Indian Cities

Mukherjee, Reuters India, 5/16

The Population Council recently announced that it will distribute 250,000 comic books that aim to dispel "chauvinistic" notions about sex and spread HIV/AIDS awareness in four Indian cities, Reuters India reports. According to United Nations figures, more than two-thirds of married women ages 15 to 49 in India experience violence, rape or coerced sex. Some experts say traditional ideas and social attitudes about masculinity make men behave in ways that place them and their partners at an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.The comics are aimed at boys and men ages 15 to 24 and are designed to not look like teaching materials, Reuters India reports. They will be available at no cost in Bengali, Hindi, Telugu and Urdu, and a limited edition in English also will be available. The comics will be distributed among residents in the shanty towns of Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi. They also will be distributed to video game parlors, Internet cafes and other locations frequented by young people, Reuters India reports."Many Indian men think it is cool to be violent and forceful with women, and that women who answer back are loose and therefore need controlling," Vijaya Nidadavolu, communication director for the Population Council, said, adding, "The idea is to make them aware of alternative gender norms that in turn might make them more equitable and thereby indulge in safer sexual practices." According to Nidadavolu, the advantage of the comics is their entertainment value. "Plus, comic books are easy to carry and hide -- we find that given the stigma around HIV, it is quite useful to have materials that people can conceal," Nidadavolu said.

Malaysia Health Ministry Cannot Promote Condom Use To Prevent Spread of HIV

New Straits Times, 5/21

Malaysia's Ministry of Health cannot openly promote condom use to prevent the spread of HIV because it could be misinterpreted as advocating promiscuity, deputy director for the Ministry of Health Jalal Halil Khalil said Sunday in conjunction with International AIDS Memorial Day, Malaysia's New Straits Times reports. Promotion of condom use will be handed over to nongovernmental organizations, including the Malaysian AIDS Council and its 37 affiliates, Khalil said According to the Times, there are about 75,000 HIV-positive people living in Malaysia, 70% of whom are injection drug users (Darshni, New Straits Times, 5/21). In addition, the government has said that transmission through heterosexual sex is increasing and noted a trend of increasing HIV incidence among women in the country (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 2/13). Current efforts to combat the spread of the disease have targeted IDUs, commercial sex workers and men who have sex with men, the Times reports.According to Khalil, the health ministry and the government are concerned about the increasing number of HIV cases recorded annually. However, the government cannot be seen as an advocate of condom use because it could be misinterpreted, Khalil said. "We realize that we are in an Islamic country, and we have to do things carefully," he said, adding, "That is why we have given this duty to nongovernmental organizations." According to Khalil, the government is aware that condoms are an effective method of preventing the spread of HIV, especially among marginalized groups like IDUs, MSM and sex workers. "The important thing is to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading," he said, adding, "We have to give enough information to all levels of society. But changing knowledge to behavior is not easy." Datuk Zaman Khan, trustee of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, said he agreed that promoting condom use is the best method of controlling the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. He added that there are "so many taboos in this country," but "in reality, [premarital sex] happens." MAC President Adeeba Kamarulzaman said, "Delaying sexual practices and having monogamous relationships are ideals, but these do not necessarily happen in real life. We have to match that with pragmatism." She added, "We know what works, and we have to get people to realize that they have to protect themselves, ... it's about protecting public health and educating the young".

Gates Foundation Opens Beijing Office To Increase HIV Prevention Efforts in China

Heim, Seattle Times, 5/20

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has opened an office in Beijing to increase HIV prevention efforts in China and control the spread of the virus in the country, the Seattle Times reports. The Gates Foundation and the Chinese government still are working out the terms of the partnership and discussing a grant to the country. Ray Yip, a former U.S. CDC director in China and a senior adviser to UNICEF China, will run the program. According to the Times, the Gates Foundation also is seeking China's cooperation to address other diseases, including malaria and tuberculosis. It is unclear how China will accept aid from outside groups "at a time when foundations and other charitable organizations are seen by authorities as a potential threat, fomenting grass-roots democracy," the Times reports. The Gates Foundation is providing few details about the program in China and is keeping a "low profile" in the country, according to the Times. Its Beijing office does not have a sign on the door. Bill Gates last month came to China seeking to improve relations between the government and Microsoft. "Less noticed" was Gates' visit to a Beijing health clinic to learn about its HIV prevention efforts, the Times reports. Jenny Sorensen, a spokesperson for the Gates Foundation, said the organization has been "exploring opportunities to help support the response to HIV/AIDS in China," adding that final decisions regarding the program's funding have not been made.According to the Times, an estimated 650,000 people in China are HIV-positive. The United Nations in 2005 said that if prevention efforts are not taken, the country could have 10 million HIV-positive people by 2010. China recently said it could limit the number of HIV cases to 1.5 million by 2010, the Times reports.

Medically Speaking

Early Treatment With Three Classes of Antiretrovirals Quickly Reduces Viral Loads, Study Says

Lauerman, Bloomberg, 5/15

Early treatment with a combination therapy that contains three classes of antiretroviral drugs can reduce viral loads quickly raising the possibility that HIV can be eliminated in people with already low viral loads following aggressive treatment with new drug classes -- according to study published in the June 15 issue of the Journal of Infectious Disease, Bloomberg reports. Anthony Fauci, director of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and colleagues followed seven HIV-positive people for 3.5 to 4.5 years, measuring the number of resting CD4+ T cells in which HIV remained throughout treatment. The study found that early treatment with the three-drug combination therapy reduced the number of infected resting T cells by 50% every 4.6 months. Based on the results, the researchers estimated that 7.7 years of the combination therapy could all but eliminate HIV among people who began treatment early.Although the number of study participants who started the combination therapy early, remained on treatment for years and had low viral loads might be small, studying them "will be of considerable value in assessing the feasibility of eradication of HIV," the researchers said. According to Fauci, the next step is to see if the aggressive treatment, along with Roche's Fuzeon and Merck's Isentress, can eradicate the virus. "The first step is to see how far we can push the envelope" in terms of reducing viral loads, Fauci said, adding, "We now have a scientific basis to feel that it's at least worth pursuing it in some select patients."Fuzeon and Isentress attack parts of HIV that are not affected by other classes of antiretrovirals, Bloomberg reports. Such drugs have the best chance of eradicating HIV because the virus likely has not mutated to develop defenses against the new medications, Fauci said. He added that the proposed study also might help physicians decide when and how to use currently available antiretrovirals. If doctors could get HIV-positive people completely off their treatment regimens, it might be worth the risk of the aggressive treatment, Fauci said. Participants already are lined up for the proposed study, according to Bloomberg. If participants' viral loads decrease to undetectable levels, researchers will stop treatment, according to Fauci. He added that participants will be monitored so they can start therapy if the virus reappears.In a related editorial, David Margolis and Nancie Archin of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill write that a risk of aggressive treatment is that measurements of viral loads are not always accurate. "The few infected cells remaining might be enough to reignite infection," the authors write, adding, "And, of course, the possibility exists that HIV may rarely persist in cells other than resting T cells".

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