During Ron Valdiserri’s address to the Summit to End HIV/AIDS in America last month, he shared his thoughts on several principles for achieving an AIDS-free generation. He mentioned to the audience that these were going to be the subject of an editorial awaiting publication. That editorial has been published and is available online: http://www.publichealthreports.org/issueopen.cfm?articleID=2908
About the Summit to End HIV/AIDS in America
The Summit to End HIV/AIDS in America builds on NMAC’s new mission of “developing leadership in communities of color to END the HIV/AIDS epidemic and will include the unveiling of the “Declaration to END HIV/AIDS in America.” The Declaration will crystallize our community’s values and beliefs on how to translate groundbreaking policy and science developments into an end to HIV/AIDS. The Declaration focuses on four key points:
- Promoting PLWHA leadership in efforts to increase health care engagement and treatment;
- Eliminating new HIV infections;
- Reducing stigma, discrimination, and social injustices which increase HIV vulnerability and health disparities; and
- Maintaining a strong commitment to finding a vaccine and a cure
The Declaration will challenge us to use the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Ryan White CARE Act (RWCA) more effectively to provide essential services to PLWHA, and to come together to create a pathway to an AIDS-free generation. The official signing of the Declaration will occur during the Summit and throughout USCA.
Each year, the Summit will focus on upcoming progressive phases of our response: 2012 (Planning), 2013 (Training), 2014 (Implementation), and 2015 (Evaluation). In 2015, community-based evaluation efforts will complement efforts to evaluate outcomes of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS).
The format of this year’s Summit will include free-flowing dialogues between leaders, as well as a structured review of key approaches and tools needed to implement key biomedical interventions such as TasP, which are critical to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Strategies will be examined within the context of the ACA, NHAS, HIP, RWCA reauthorization, Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA), and other complementary non-AIDS specific service expansion opportunities. Federal government representatives will attend the Summit to share their perspective and join the dialogue on how their programs will support and enhance our ability to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America.
Summit participants will include: executive directors of community-based organizations; senior health department staff; senior staff from community health centers; and federal government staff responsible for ACA, NHAS, RWCA, HIP, and HOPWA.
Summit Logistics
Site and Room: Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas, NV – Room: Milano I/II on the Promenade Level
Starts September 29, 2012: At 8:30 a.m. (please be on time)
USCA: Note – The Summit has been planned around the Sunday Opening Breakfast Plenary and the Luncheon. You will be able to attend those plenaries and the Summit
Ends on September 30, 2012: At 5:00 p.m.