LGBT POV

I confess: I still consider HIV/AIDS a very serious national health crisis and I have not been shy about criticizing the Obama administration for not acting more swiftly – as promised – to create a National AIDS Strategy to save lives and prevent more infections. The Office of National AIDS Policy has promised a comprehensive strategy next month and that may now be on track.

The grassroots activist/stakeholder group Coalition for a National AIDS Strategy sent out a notice that the White House is holding a telephonic briefing Friday at 1:00p.m. Eastern, 10:00a.m. Pacific to tell community stakeholders what topics the Obama Administration is considering for inclusion in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Here’s their advisory:

Join the White House Briefing Call TOMORROW

800-288-8961 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Hundreds of people across the U.S. have offered recommendations to the Obama Administration to create a strong, outcomes-oriented National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  For the first time, community stakeholder will learn what topics the White House is considering for inclusion in its plan during a meeting and conference call being held TOMORROW.

Community Briefing Call on the National HIV/AIDS Strategy:

Friday, May 14 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Conference Call Phone Number: (800) 288-8961

Everyone concerned about HIV/AIDS in the U.S. is encouraged to join the call.  The White House is also hosting an in-person meeting in Washington, DC ahead of the call for those who registered by May 10 (learn more).

What should be in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS)?

Any independent working group of advocates has produced recommendations for key components of the NHAS. We encourage you to refer to them in any comments you make at the meeting or on the call.  Download the document here.

The working group’s paper calls for a Strategy that addresses structural vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS and moves beyond the status quo in order to improve HIV-related outcomes in the U.S.  The paper advances four fundamental recommendations for development of an effective and outcomes-oriented Strategy:

1. Set a few ambitious, achievable targets

2. Improve federal management to achieve a more coordinated, accountable response

3. Identify high-yield activities and promote strategic allocation of resources

4. Prepare for implementation

The paper identifies the need for new resources, but also urges better targeting of resources, new approaches, and other reforms to use current and new financing more effectively.

The paper additionally models what the trajectory of the epidemic might be if specific suggested targets are met, compared with anticipated growth in incidence and prevalence without progress toward targets.  This modeling exercise is another example of the type of planning needed for an effective Strategy.

Learn more about these recommendations here.

So what’s that call-in information, again?

Friday, May 14 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Conference Call Phone Number: (800) 288-8961

Learn more from the White House Office of National AIDS Policy about it May 14 meeting and conference call by clicking here.