AFC in Force at National HIV Prevention Conference

This week, thousands of the nation's leading HIV prevention researchers, practitioners, and advocates gathered in Atlanta for the 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  AIDS Foundation of Chicago staff and board members attended and helped raise visibility for HIV advocacy efforts on a range of prevention and care issues, including national health care reform.  AFC Vice President David Ernesto Munar spoke as part of the opening plenary about how health care reform would be a game changer for both the prevention of new HIV infections and maintaining the health of those already living with HIV.  Policy Manager Jessica Terlikowski presented data on a study AFC commissioned to gauge the attitudes and practices of Illinois pharmacists regarding sterile syringe access.  At the conference, AFC launched the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance in collaboration with the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) and SisterLove, which covered conference proceedings on its blog preventionjustice.org.  Munar also contributed to RHRealityCheck.org.

Advocates, including AFCers, at this week’s National HIV Prevention Conference sent a strong message to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that people with HIV can’t wait for health care reform. Taking the front of the stage before Sebelius’ speech, forty advocates led thousands of conference attendees in chanting “Stand Up! Health Care Now!” This sentiment was echoed by numerous advocates again and again in the National AIDS Strategy Community Discussion held Tuesday night in Atlanta.  Help reinforce their message by taking action on health care now!