Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
Reminder: Special Guest Speaker at Wed Group meeting at World AIDS Museum, 11-2-16 at 7 PM
Posted in Activites, AIDS Museum, Health, Medications, Uncategorized, Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group on November 1, 2016| Leave a Comment »
ABOUT DR. LOWMAN:
Dr Erik Lowman is dual board certified in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine. He joined Midland Medical Center in October of 2016, moving back to South Florida from Chicago with his husband, Peter Hammer, and their 2 children, Olive and Rose. He went to Nova Southeastern Osteopathic Medical School, did his internal medicine residency at University of Florida Jacksonville and his infectious disease fellowship at Rush University.
Special Wednesday Group 11-2-16 at 7 PM GUEST SPEAKER at WORLD AIDS MUSEUM (WAM)
Posted in Activites, AIDS Museum, Health, Medications, Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group on October 29, 2016| Leave a Comment »
ABOUT DR. LOWMAN:
Dr Erik Lowman is dual board certified in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine. He joined Midland Medical Center in October of 2016, moving back to South Florida from Chicago with his husband, Peter Hammer, and their 2 children, Olive and Rose. He went to Nova Southeastern Osteopathic Medical School, did his internal medicine residency at University of Florida Jacksonville and his infectious disease fellowship at Rush University.
Special Free Friday Movie at World AIDS Museum, July 8, 6 PM
Posted in Activites, AIDS Museum, Health, Medications, Movies on July 2, 2016| Leave a Comment »
FREE MOVIE – FRIDAY, JULY 8TH, 6M
WORLD AIDS MUSEUM AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER
1201 NW 26TH Street, Ste 111, Wilton Manors, FL 33305
PHONE (954) 390-0550
Buddies (1985 film)
Buddies is a 1985 American drama film. It is the first film to deal with the AIDS pandemic, preceding the television movie An Early Frost (also released in 1985). Directed by Arthur J. Bressan Jr., who would die of complications from AIDS two years after the film was released, the film follows a New York City gay man in a monogamous relationship becoming a “buddy” or a volunteer friend to another gay man dying of AIDS and the friendship that develops. The film stars Geoff Edholm, David Schachter, Billy Lux, and David Rose.
History[edit]
The first widely released Hollywood film to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic within the United States would be Longtime Companion in 1990. While news reports about the pandemic began to appear in the New York Times as early as 1981, the fact that many of the initial victims were gay or bisexual men, contributed to how Hollywood and society responded.[1] The long standing taboo within Hollywood about depicting homosexuality played a large role in the refusal of the industry to cinematically deal with the pandemic when it was initially treated as a “gay disease.” See also The Celluloid Closet book and documentary film.
In response to the pandemic, and Hollywood hypocrisy, Bressan wrote and directed the film Buddies in 1985, and it was shown in a handful of urban, art house movie theaters.
New Exhibit Opening at WORLD AIDS MUSEUM – This Friday, Nov. 20 7-9 PM
Posted in Activites, AIDS Museum, Health, Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group on November 17, 2015| Leave a Comment »
YOU ARE INVITED
Only Half of Gays with HIV getting Health Care needed.
Posted in AIDS Museum, Health, Uncategorized, Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group on September 28, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Only Half Of Gay And Bisexual Men With HIV Are Getting The Care They Need
Anna Almendrala 09/26/2014 HUFFINGTON POST
We’ve got some of the most powerful antiretroviral HIV drugs at our disposal, capable of preventing AIDS and prolonging life to near-normal expectancy, but they’re only reaching a fraction of the people who need it.
A disturbing report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that only about half of HIV-positive gay and bisexual men in the United States are receiving treatment. And only 42 percent had achieved viral suppression, or the point at which there are such low levels of the virus in the blood that the chance of passing it on to others is greatly reduced. Only 77.5 percent of HIV-positive gay and bisexual men were linked to some kind of HIV health care within three months of diagnosis.
“The most powerful tool for protecting the health of people living with HIV and preventing new HIV infections is really only reaching a fraction of the men who need it,” said Richard Wolitski, Ph.D., an expert on HIV among gay and bisexual men, as well as a senior advisor in the CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. “The goal of HIV treatment is for everyone to achieve viral suppression.”
The report was compiled from 2010 data and will serve as a baseline for future surveys, explained Wolitski. So while it can’t tell us whether these rates are an improvement or a regression from years past, the number of people getting treatment is still too low — especially considering that almost everyone with HIV who takes antiretroviral drugs can achieve suppression.
“The treatments that we have available today are so much more effective and so much easier to take than the medications that were available early in the HIV epidemic,” Wolitski told The Hufington Post. “HIV has really become a health condition that can be treated and monitored effectively if the right care is given and started early.”
The rates are especially troubling for young people and for men of color. When the data is split up by race, only 37 percent of black gay and bisexual men have achieved viral suppression, as opposed to 44 percent of white and 42 percent of Latino gay and bisexual men.
Analyzed by age, 25.9 percent of gay and bisexual men ages 18 to 24 achieved viral suppression, as opposed to 42 percent of the overall population.
There are a lot of obstacles that can block men from their medicine, including lack of experience with the health care system, no family support and stigma that could make men afraid to reveal their HIV status to their support networks. All these factors make it more difficult to keep up with the demands of biannual check-ups and daily medication (usually pills). Mental health issues and substance abuse problems could also prevent men from accessing the drugs they need.
But the primary barriers are poverty and lack of insurance, despite the fact that HIV drugs are covered by Medicaid and federal funds are available through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which fills in funding gaps that aren’t covered by Medicaid or private health insurance.
The Affordable Care Act could also end up making a significant dent in these numbers. In a report released last January, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that of the 407,000 people with HIV who are already linked to health care, 70,000 are estimated to be uninsured. But because of the health care act, 23,000 would gain coverage through the insurance marketplace, while 46,910 more would become eligible for expanded Medicaid — provided that all states sign up for expanded Medicaid. As of September, only 27 states and the District of Columbia plan to participate.
As for the estimated 700,000 people with HIV who aren’t linked to care yet, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that ACA changes could mean health coverage for an additional 124,000 more people.
In Chicago, rates of HIV infection have jumped among gay and bisexual men under 30, mostly among black men. To close the HIV treatment gap and prevent more infections, advocacy groups and governmental organizations have to work together, said Simone Koehlinger, senior vice president of programming at AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
“For states like Illinois where Medicaid has expanded, you want to make sure that the Medicaid managed care plans continue to cover services that are needed, that formularies are covering the effective HIV drugs and that people who were perhaps not covered for many years … understand [how to navigate] the health care system,” said Koehlinger in a phone interview with HuffPost.
As important as funding, though, are programs that continue to provide cross-cultural education about HIV/AIDS to decrease stigma around the disease, something that the AIDS Foundation of Chicago has done since its founding in 1985. Among its other priorities are advocating on behalf of patients to keep medications affordable, educating HIV/AIDS clients about their medication options, and training health care providers on how to bridge cultural divides about the disease.
POZitive Attitudes is part of the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center
VISIT, VOLUNTEER & DONATE: WWW.WorldAIDSmuseum.Org
REMINDER Wednesday Group Topic- METH IN OUR COMMUNITY – Special Panel Discussion – AUGUST 27, 2014
Posted in AIDS Museum, Health, Support Group, Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group on August 27, 2014| Leave a Comment »
The Resurgence of Meth in our MSM Community
Please join us for a panel discussion, Wednesday August 27th from 7-pm. The topic for this week will be: The use of Methamphetamine within the Gay community, and its devastating impact here in South Florida.
Come learn about meth, its pharmacology, the psychological and physiological affects, why it’s the number one strongest addictive drug, and what to consider if you thought about using, or are already using, or know someone who is and want to be a positive influence in their life.
Join our panel of three members of the NoMoreMeth task force, consisting of a special mental health professional who has been at the forefront of meth addiction/treatment and recovery for over 10 years. Another who has had close friends who became meth addicts, and a third panelist will answer questions about being a former meth addict who is now in recovery.
The panel will present suggestions about interventions and how to help with recovery choices.
Wednesday Group Topic- METH IN OUR COMMUNITY – Special Panel Discussion – AUGUST 27, 2014
Posted in AIDS Museum, Health, Support Group, Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group on August 26, 2014| Leave a Comment »
The Resurgence of Meth in our MSM Community
Please join us for a panel discussion, Wednesday August 27th from 7-pm. The topic for this week will be: The use of Methamphetamine within the Gay community, and its devastating impact here in South Florida.
Come learn about meth, its pharmacology, the psychological and physiological affects, why it’s the number one strongest addictive drug, and what to consider if you thought about using, or are already using, or know someone who is and want to be a positive influence in their life.
Join our panel of three members of the NoMoreMeth task force, consisting of a special mental health professional who has been at the forefront of meth addiction/treatment and recovery for over 10 years. Another who has had close friends who became meth addicts, and a third panelist will answer questions about being a former meth addict who is now in recovery.
The panel will present suggestions about interventions and how to help with recovery choices.
Wednesday Group Topic- METH IN OUR COMMUNITY – Special Panel Discussion – AUGUST 27, 2014
Posted in AIDS Museum, Health, Support Group, Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group on August 25, 2014| 1 Comment »
The Resurgence of Meth in our MSM Community
Please join us for a panel discussion, Wednesday August 27th from 7-pm. The topic for this week will be: The use of Methamphetamine within the Gay community, and its devastating impact here in South Florida.
Come learn about meth, its pharmacology, the psychological and physiological affects, why it’s the number one strongest addictive drug, and what to consider if you thought about using, or are already using, or know someone who is and want to be a positive influence in their life.
Join our panel of three members of the NoMoreMeth task force, consisting of a special mental health professional who has been at the forefront of meth addiction/treatment and recovery for over 10 years. Another who has had close friends who became meth addicts, and a third panelist will answer questions about being a former meth addict who is now in recovery.
The panel will present suggestions about interventions and how to help with recovery choices.