Vaccine Research Center Launches Mobile Clinic

The Clinical Trials Core of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases invites you to join us for the VRC Mobile Clinic Launch Reception.

The Vaccine Research Center's work includes preventive and therapeutic HIV vaccine research. The new mobile clinic will make it easier for folks in the District to be screened for, and participate in HIV vaccine research studies.

The event will be held Friday June 6, 2008 at 11am on the NIH Campus. Exact location will be adjacent to Bldg 40, the Vaccine Research Center. Please RSVP by emailing vaccines@nih.gov or calling 1-866-833-LIFE (5433)

National Black AIDS Awareness Day 2009

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information Day (NBHAAD). This annual observance day was created to raise awareness among African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on African American communities. The day is part of a national mobilization effort to get African Americans to learn more about the threat posed by the disease, get tested, get treated and make a commitment to fight HIV/AIDS.

Here in Washington, DC there is no question that African Americans are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. According to our recent surveillance report, African Americans make up about 55% of the DC population, but constitute 80% of District residents living with HIV. Further, of the 842 cases of HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men from 2001 to 2006, 63% were among black men.

National Black AIDS Awareness Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness of how HIV/AIDS impacts Black gay and bisexual men. If you're interested in helping organize a National Black AIDS Awareness Day event in Washington DC, please let me know.

To learn more about the National Black AIDS Awareness Day, visit www.blackaidsday.org.

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For information on 2007 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Events in DC, click here.

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DC HIV Vaccine Awareness Day 2008

Washington DC marked HIV Vaccine Awareness day with a presentation and reception. The event was sponsored by Us Helping Us, The Capital Area Vaccine Effort, and The DC Center.

Scientists have been searching for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection since the virus was first identified in 1983. Each clinical trial brings us one step closer to finding an effective vaccine. More than 25,000 HIV-negative individuals have participated in both government- and privately sponsored HIV vaccine trials.

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is a day to educate our communities about the efforts to find a preventive HIV vaccine and to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers, health professionals and scientists who are conducting and participating in HIV vaccine research.

To see pictures from the reception, click here.

Learn more at www.bethegeneration.org.

Talk About HIV/AIDS in the District

Are you or someone you know living with HIV/AIDS? What is the most important thing community based organizations could do to get people to come regularly for primary medical care? What could community based organizations do to help reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS?

You are invited to a forum to discuss these and other issues on Thursday May 15, 2008, from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Please pass on this information to any friends who are living with HIV/AIDS.

The discussion will be held at the Charles Sumner School Museum at 17th and M Streets, NW. It is about 3 blocks north of the Farragut North Metro Station and a block from Connecticut Ave. and the #42 bus line.

Incentives and a light lunch will be provided to participants. Please call 202.449.7741 to reserve a space. Sponsored by the DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group and the DC Delegation of the Ryan White Planning Council.

Are Preventive and Therapeutic HIV Vaccines on the Horizon?

The Capital Area Vaccine Effort (CAVE) and Us Helping Us, People into Living, Inc. (UHU) invite you to our HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD) Forum: Are Preventive and Therapeutic HIV Vaccines on the Horizon?

The forum takes place on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 6:00 PM, at the Academy for Educational Development (AED), Greeley Hall, 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW. Reception to follow.

Please RSVP to: Sterling Washington, (202) 446-1100 x1123 swashington@uhupil.org.

A Message from Mark Fischer

I am pleased and honored to tell you that on May 1, 2008 I was sworn in by Mayor Adrian Fenty as a member of the Metropolitan Washington Regional HIV Health Services Planning Council.

The Planning Council serves Washington, DC as well as multiple counties in Northern Virginia, Suburban Maryland and West Virginia. These jurisdictions comprise the Statistical Metropolitan Area (SMS) as defined by the Census Bureau. Based upon the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the SMA it became an Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) as defined by the Ryan White Care Act of 2006 (and the previous multi-year Ryan White Acts).

Requirements for administration of federal Ryan White funding require each EMA to have an all-volunteer Planning Council that is responsible for needs assessment and funding allocation.

The selection of provider agencies is made based upon the plan developed by the Planning Council. There is a governmental agency in each jurisdiction that selects providers, dispenses funding and monitors performance. In Washington, DC, that role is carried out by the HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA) in the DC Department of Health.

The Planning Council members represent and reflect the diversity of our communities. In addition, the Planning Council uses professionally conducted surveys, focus groups, community forums and other means to seek substantial community input.

My purpose in posting this message is to assure all that I am anxious to secure input of service needs and service availability that any of you may have to share.

If you or someone known to you is having difficulty obtaining HIV/AIDS related services, I would be able to help direct you to an appropriate source. Washington, DC offer one of the most comprehensive sets of HIV/AIDS support services of any city in the nation. There is no need for anyone to go without such assistance.

Please contact me directly via email at fischerwdc@msn.com with any input you may have to offer. If appropriate, include your contact information (telephone and best time to call) along with a brief summary of your input. I will respond in a timely manner.

The full Planning Council meets monthly on the fourth Thursday of the month at 64 New York Avenue, NE in the Fifth Floor Conference Room from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. The public is welcome to attend. The next meeting is Thursday, May 29, 2008 (actually the fifth Thursday this month). The HIV/AIDS Administration main telephone number 202.671.4900 if you need to verify future meeting dates.

Again, I welcome the opportunity to serve our region in addressing the very pressing challenge represented by HIV/AIDS and to work with any of you if you feel I may be able to offer assistance.

Mark Fischer
fischerwdc@msn.com
Dorchester House

PS The Planning Council and its members DO NOT have any role in selecting provider agencies or in resolving complaints or concerns about their performance. Those matters are handled by the administrative agency in each jurisdiction. In DC, that is HAA for which contact information was given above.

Save the Date: Reflections of Life and Hope

Andromeda Transcultural Health presents Reflections of Life and Hope at the Gala Theater at Tivoli at 6:30 PM on July 25th. The evening will benefit Andromeda's support groups for people living with HIV/AIDS in DC.

This unique event will combine an art exhibition with live music and performances, bringing our community together to celebrate life and hope in the midst of an ongoing struggle against HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia.

You can find out more about Andromeda Transcultura Health at www.andromedatransculturalhealth.org. For more infomation about this event, e-mail Antonio Pineda.