Tuesday, April 10, 2007 |
In this issue: |
All U.S. States To Begin Names-Based Reporting of HIV Cases by End of 2007(Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report) All U.S. states and Washington, D.C., by the end of 2007 will begin recording HIV cases using names-based reporting systems rather than code-based reporting systems, the AP/Springfield State Journal Register reports. Beginning this fiscal year, the funding formulas used by HHS to calculate Ryan White Program grants include only HIV data from states that use names-based reporting systems, the AP/Journal Register reports. Vermont, Maryland and Hawaii are the only states not currently using a names-based reporting system to track HIV cases. CDC in 1999 endorsed names-based reporting and in 2005 recommended that states use names-based reporting systems. Timothy Mastro, deputy director of CDC's Division for HIV/AIDS Prevention, said, "After many evaluations of code-based systems, it became clear that those systems do not meet CDC standards for HIV data." He added that syphilis, tuberculosis and AIDS cases are tracked by names-based systems.>> Click Here
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B.C. injection site risks offending worldPeter O'Neil, CanWest News ServiceThe federal government concluded that the risk of offending the international community by keeping open Vancouver's supervised injection site for drug addicts had more serious consequences than closing the facility over the objections of the B.C. government, according to internal documents obtained by The Vancouver Sun. One Health Canada document, which describes and evaluates the risks associated with both options, also warned that refusal to extend Insite's licence would simply result in the opening of an illegal facility doing the same thing. With considerable risks inherent with either choice, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government -- asked to extend the permit by up to five years -- found a middle ground in August by extending the facility's permit only until the end of this year. The government also refused to renew the $1.5-million in research funding provided by the former Liberal government when it opened for a three-year trial in 2003. The Harper government has criticized "harm reduction" measures such as the Insite program, which focuses on reducing the risk of overdoses and HIV infection rates among hardcore addicts.
>> Click Here
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B.C. commits $80-million to housing(Mark Hume - Globe & Mail) Vancouver — Just a few blocks from where the city devolves into the social chaos of the Downtown Eastside, Premier Gordon Campbell and Mayor Sam Sullivan announced a major new initiative yesterday aimed at the homelessness problem plaguing Vancouver. The province is providing $80-million to purchase 15 buildings, mostly single-room-occupancy (SRO) hotels in the Downtown Eastside, which will provide nearly 1,000 units for the homeless. The project also includes developing new social housing on three properties owned by the city. Officials said it is the largest single commitment to social housing in the history of British Columbia. Ten of the SRO buildings are in Vancouver (including the historic Marble Arch Hotel on Richards Street and the Savoy Hotel on East Hastings) with four in Burnaby and one in Victoria.
>> Click Here
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OraSure Technologies to apply for FDA Approval(Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report) Bethlehem, Pa.-based OraSure Technologies during the past year has been preparing to seek FDA approval for nonprescription sales of its OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test, the Allentown Morning Call reports. OraSure on Monday announced it has hired Durham, N.C.-based Constella Group to design a consumer counseling and referral system to accompany nonprescription sales of the test (Kennedy, Allentown Morning Call, 4/3). The OraQuick test requires users to swab their gums and then place the swab in a holder. After 20 minutes, one line appears on the strip if the test result is negative and the person is HIV-negative and two appear if the result is positive and the person is HIV-positive. Positive results require a follow-up test with a medical professional for confirmation (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 9/29/06). According to the Morning Call, the counseling and referral system will be a critical component FDA considers when deciding whether to approve OraQuick for nonprescription sales. The test currently is approved only for use by hospitals, physician offices and clinics (Allentown Morning Call, 4/3). The FDA Blood Products Advisory Committee at a March 2006 hearing told OraSure it needs to devise a clinical study to test the accuracy and safety of OraQuick before moving forward with the approval process for nonprescription sales.>> Click Here
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(Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report) Lesotho is "struggling to contain" the spread of tuberculosis in the face of its HIV/AIDS epidemic, IRIN News reports. In 2006, the country reported 12,000 new TB cases, but TB expert Peter Saranchuk of Medecins Sans Frontieres said the actual number of cases likely is much higher. In addition, Saranchuk estimates that there are "vast" numbers of undiagnosed TB cases because roughly 85% to 92% of HIV-positive people in the country also have TB. The capacity to perform culture testing to diagnose TB among HIV-positive people is limited in Lesotho, and sputum samples must be sent to South Africa. Results typically are not returned for six weeks. Although TB also can be diagnosed among HIV-positive people using X-rays and clinical assessments, the strategy is relatively new, and Lesotho's department of health and social development still is training health workers in how to manage the two diseases, according to IRIN News.
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New TB Data Available on GlobalHealthFacts.org(GlobalHealthReporting.org) Since it was first identified as a public health emergency more than a decade ago, the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic has leveled off for the first time, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report released on March 22, 2007. However, while the TB incidence rate remained stable in 2005 compared to the previous year, there were still 8.8 million new TB cases in 2005 and drug-resistant TB, HIV/AIDS and other obstacles stand in the way of controlling the epidemic. As a provider of easy-to-access and up-to-date information on global health conditions, the Kaiser Family Foundation, through its two global health websites, GlobalHealthReporting.org and GlobalHealthFacts.org, features new and updated resources, including new TB data just released in the 2007 WHO report, "Global Tuberculosis Control: Surveillance, Planning and Financing." GlobalHealthFacts.org now also includes data on TB and HIV coinfection. These data on GlobalHealthFacts.org are displayed in tables, charts, and color-coded maps and can be downloaded for custom analyses. >> Click Here
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"Dining Out for Life"April 26, 2007 The Living Positive through Positive Living society of Alberta presents "Dining Out for Life". On this Day, participating restaurants will donate 25% of that day’s food sales to help those living with HIV/AIDS. Last year $5,941.87 was raised to help those living with HIV/AIDS in Edmonton. See www.diningoutforlife.com for more information, and a list of participating restaurants or call 780.488.5768. Click Here
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HIV Positive Support GroupApril will be the inaugural month for the Pride Centre's HIV Support Group. The group will meet on the second Monday of each month starting on April 9th. This group is intended to offer a safe space and group support for persons living with HIV. For more information please contact the Pride Centre of Edmonton at 488-3234. Click Here
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Men & Women's Coming Out WorkshopsComing Out workshops will start near the end of April will workshops for women beginning on Wednesday, April 25th and for men beginning on Monday April 30th. If you or anyone you know are interested, please contact Richard at the Pride Centre at 488-3234 or email richard@pridecentreofedmonton.org. Click Here
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Celebrating the strong and unique contributions of Edmonton’s Queer communities.Seeking passionate, talented, committed individuals who want to help create Edmonton’s newest arts and culture festival with a decidedly Queer focus.
Do you have experience in some of the following areas?
Are you Queer friendly and have an appreciation for the art and cultural contribution made by the Queer community in the greater Edmonton region? We are looking for diverse representation from all communities that make up the Queer community of greater Edmonton. Opportunities are not limited to Queer identifying individuals. The Capital Queer Festival will provide an opportunity for all Edmontonians to see the Queer community as a vibrant and integral part of the city. It is also a chance for Queer identified people to, as Councillor Michael Phair sees it, "integrate our queer identities with our citizenship". If you are interested and want more information please contact Ted at student.phair@edmonton.ca before April 27th 2007
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