CHAMP's blog

Why: The Senate will begin debate next week on the Economic Recovery bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives this week. The Senate bill includes $400 million in funding for HIV and STD screening and prevention. (The House version is $335 million and includes TB and Viral Hepatitis as well. We will call for inclusion of those diseases in conference). We must make certain the funding remains in the bill.

56,300 new HIV infections occur annually
One state plans to close all STD clinics due to budget cuts
More than 680 jobs have been lost in TB control programs in last three years
At least 3 million Americans are chronically infected with hepatitis C
25% of the current public health care workforce is eligible to retire in 2012
The money should be sent to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention to address the four most common infectious diseases in the U.S. Adjusted for inflation, CDC's HIV prevention budget alone has decreased by 19.3% since fiscal year 2002. Explain to the Administration and the Senators that prevention funding is critical to the health and well-being of the country.  read more »

Rachel Maddow called out Rep. James Ramstad (R-MN/3rd), who may be chosen as director of national drug control policy or "drug czar," for his opposition to syringe exchange programs and gave the CHAMP website for people to take action. Watch the video below.



Click here to tell Obama to choose a Drug Czar who will fight HIV/AIDS.

Regardless of the results when the dust settles late on Election Day 2008, we know for certain: the AIDS pandemic will still be a national and global crisis.

Will our new Administration and Congress call for bold measures to address a deepening domestic AIDS epidemic? Will Washington generate a National AIDS Strategy based on the evidence of what works, or will business-as-usual inside the Beltway hinder our efforts? What are the emerging politics around full funding for honest HIV prevention and groundbreaking research?

We know what's at stake. The question remains, what will we do - together - to achieve a justice-based HIV prevention strategy to end AIDS?

Please join us on Wednesday, November 12 at 4pm EST as we host an in-depth analysis and discussion about our work, post-election.

Click here for more information and to register.

On Wednesday September 10, CHAMP held a community forum entitled A Call to Action! The Fight for a National AIDS Strategy and the Presidential Candidates' Position on the Domestic AIDS Crisis. The forum was moderated by Robert Bank of Gay Men's Health Crisis and featured four fascinating panelists: Chris Collins, Author of the Improving Outcomes: Blueprint for a National AIDS Plan, A. Toni Young from Community Education Group, The Honorable C. Virginia Fields of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS and Charles Long from the New York City AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN). Following the four presentations, the panelists fielded many challenging questions from the audience. Check out panelists remarks on the videos below.  read more »

There's been a lot of talk recently about the need for a national AIDS strategy. But what exactly would go into such a strategy? Well, I'm sitting in a barn outside of Oxford, MS with over 60 people who traveled here from around the country to Stand Against AIDS, and they're talking about just that.  read more »

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) don't have more sexual partners or more risk behaviors than other MSM. In fact, studies show black MSM have fewer sexual partners, on average, than white MSM and are less likely to use drugs associated with HIV risk. So why do black MSM have twice the rate of HIV infections of white MSM? On Wednesday, February 13, CHAMP hosted a panel discussion in New York that explored recent research on why black MSM are at higher risk for HIV despite similar or even lower rates of individual risk behavior. The panel also examined how government policy should change to reflect these findings and how they affect prevention work within our communities. Speakers Included: Greg A. Millett, MPH - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Tokes Osubu - Gay Men of African Descent Michael Roberson - People of Color in Crisis Moderated by: Kenyon Farrow - CHAMP

Introduction Get the Flash Player to see this player.

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Video by Jean Carlomusto and Shanit Avirgan

Written by Julie Davids of CHAMP and performed/recorded by the wonderful folks at the Georgia Prevention Justice Alliance.

Lyrics are available here.

Last week, we posted here about our victory on the CBO/NGO Village--we successfully lobbied the conference chairs to allow members of the Atlanta community free access to the CBO/NGO village. What is the CBO/NGO village? It's an event that allows community-based and non-government organizations to set up outreach tables and network with peers.

Last night, we enjoyed the fruits of our labor. Rather than try to capture the jovial spirit of the night in words, I'll let our photos speak for themselves.  read more »