HIV prevention

For the past 12 years, shortly after Mother's Day, scientists and AIDS activists have commemorated HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. It is likely perceived as an obscure observance by most Americans, but one that deserves our attention given this sobering reality: Twenty-eight years after the discovery of HIV, we still have no effective vaccine.

By Joyce C. Tang via The Daily Beast

The first version of the female condom made a weird noise, fell out, and was expensive, too. Now public health experts are pushing a new and improved version in American cities. Can it overcome stigma?

Until recently, Leslie Evans, a case manager at Vital Bridges, a nonprofit HIV/AIDS outreach program in Chicago, had never heard of the female condom. "I couldn't even picture one until I saw it," she says. Evans wondered how the female condom worked, who would want to use one, and whether the rings on each end would be uncomfortable. Though her job was to encourage safe sex to her clients, "I never really promoted it," Evans says of the female condom. "Just condoms, condoms, condoms"—and by condoms she means the male version.

Today, 66 organizations and over 400 individuals called on Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to fairly fund HIV services in the FY 11 state budget, to be introduced March 10.

The Chicago Female Condom Campaign* is surveying area agencies to learn about their purchasing and distribution of female condoms. We are particularly looking for feedback from HIV/AIDS, sexual health, and family planning programs, clinics, and agencies.

Ariana was kind enough to include a post from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's Johnathon Briggs and John Peller about the City of Chicago's proposed public health budget cuts:

Many HIV advocates jumped for joy on July 30 when Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced that he had restored most of the state’s HIV budget cuts.  And when I say most, I mean 97.4 percent!  In a year when lawmakers entertained budget cuts as deep as 50 percent, this was welcome news.  But budget cuts are coming, and YOU need to take action to make sure cuts are f