European Policy Centre’s Post

Doctoral Candidate, Katie McCormick, MSW, and University of Houston colleagues recently published a mixed methods study to understand how #HIV clinics in the South are implementing #harmreduction into their practice to address the concurrent HIV and #opioid epidemics. Key Takeaways: (1) Southern HIV orgs expend significant effort in conducting outreach activities because Southern communities are generally unaware of harm reduction (2) HIV orgs continually advocate for harm reduction amid a challenging socio-political context, and (3) HIV orgs offer fewer harm reduction services and integrate harm reduction into their organizational infrastructure to a lesser extent due to external, contextual factors. Southern HIV orgs are opportune sites for the adoption and implementation of harm reduction to respond to the #opioidepidemic. The implementation context markedly impacts if, how, and what components of harm reduction philosophy and approaches are implemented. This paper outlines implications for policy advocacy, funding, and capacity-building efforts for implementing harm reduction in Southern HIV clinics.

Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Worldwide, more than 20 million girls and women are currently living with HIV, and in the U.S., women represent around 18% of new HIV diagnoses. HIV can pose particular health challenges for women, including: ● Increased risk of cervical cancer ● Increased risk of heart disease ● Earlier menopause with more severe symptoms ● Increased risk of osteoporosis ● More frequent yeast infections and vaginosis Wistar scientists are committed to finding a cure for HIV as well as creating new approaches to improve the lives of women living with HIV, develop an HIV vaccine, and, ultimately, find a cure. #HIV #HIVAwareness #HIVResearch

A major step towards a functional cure for HIV. George Mason University researchers, led by Yuntao Wu, have discovered a novel therapeutic approach that targets and neutralizes the virus's ability to hijack immune cells. By focusing on blocking the key cellular "doorway" used by HIV to infect cells, this breakthrough has the potential to pave the way for new treatments that offer long-term remission without ongoing therapy. 🧬🔬 Dive into the details of this game-changing study and its potential impact on the fight against HIV. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGh3XpFe #HIVResearch #CureHIV #MasonScience #EndHIV

Check out #FHI360 new resources through the post: "Polycrises threaten to reverse advances in #HIV prevention & treatment outcomes. That's why FHI 360 released a new resource to help HIV programs ensure the continuity of HIV prevention, care & treatment services for key populations". Learn more: https://t.co/I3zVedKBKp #AIDS2024

It's National #HIV Testing Day! Check out this free #ContinuingEducation credit opportunity offered by University of Arkansas for Medical Science: https://ow.ly/eHo750SezUs Worth one Category I CECH toward #CHES or #MCHES recertification. Objectives: - Define antiretroviral therapy (ART) -Describe its benefits in managing HIV - Discuss the guidelines for initiating treatment for individuals living with HIV - Identify common opportunistic infections associated with HIV - Describe the strategies for prevention and treatment - Explain the link between HIV and mental health disorders and substance use - Describe PrEP and PEP as methods of HIV treatment as prevention

Youth living with HIV (YLHIV) in the southern United States experience poor outcomes across the HIV care continuum and are at high-risk for virologic failure. This study used a qualitative, community-engaged approach to inform the development of a tailored mobile Health (mHealth) tool for YLHIV in South Carolina: https://lnkd.in/eDf6RGS2

At the 25th annual international AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany, a group of international experts discussed the impact of HIV-related stigma and discrimination on efforts to end the #HIV pandemic as a public health threat by 2030. #AIDS2024 https://lnkd.in/ex5y7S3S

It's been a busy time for #HIV management in recent weeks - with updates such as repealing the disclosure requirement for people living with HIV in Singapore who can show an undetectable viral load to news that #CRISPR technology can deactivate dormant HIV fragments hiding in infected cells (https://lnkd.in/gTF4kruh). To make the goal of #HIVElimination realistic and attainable; however, we need to keep pace and continue efforts to meet the #WHO "3x95%" target. Hopefully the recommendations laid out in this White Paper will help not only maintain focus, but also advance the strategic thinking needed to achieve this. I would also highly recommend Jean Iau's excellent article about the recent Infectious Disease Act amendments and how these could have an impact in advancing Singapore's efforts in meeting the 95-95-95 goals https://lnkd.in/ggy7tNBZ #UequalsU #Testing #NoStigma #EndAIDS

The most common way women get #HIV is through unprotected sex with a male partner who has HIV. Also, women living with HIV at risk for co-morbidities. According to hiv.gov, women living with HIV are at higher risk for cervical cancer, heart disease, and gynecological issues, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), vaginal yeast infections, and menstrual cycle problems. Learn more about #WomenAndHIV at https://bit.ly/3XQlbaE. Take our Women and HIV Quiz at https://bit.ly/3XLDI8g Learn about HIV testing, treatment and how to enroll in Illinois HIV Care Connect at hivcareconnect.com

Exciting workshop! Click to learn more.