In this crossover episode with Pandemic Planet, recorded during the International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada, on July 30th, Jeff Sturchio speaks with Dr. Mark Feinberg, president and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).  In this interview, Dr. Feinberg addresses the continued progress in HIV prevention and treatment seen in recent years and outlines the challenges still faced in translating this progress into meaningful impact on the lives of people affected by HIV/AIDs. Turning the tide against HIV will require a decline in new infections, which highlights th ..read more

Even before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, preventive services, diagnostics, and treatments for pediatric HIV lagged far behind the comparable tools for adult populations. Recognizing that progress had stalled, in 2017 the Vatican convened leaders from pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, research institutions, and community organizations to align interests and identify new areas for collaboration. This series of discussions gave rise to the Rome Action Plan, a rights-based partnership that has served as an accountability mechanism to generate higher-quality services for childre ..read more

Economic empowerment is a critical pathway to preventing HIV in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and an increasing focus of PEPFAR’s DREAMS program (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe). This episode takes us to western Kenya, where new HIV infections among AGYW are among the highest in the country, fueled by social and economic factors. Janet Fleischman brings us three perspectives about the importance, impact, and challenges of reaching vulnerable young women with economic strengthening activities and why these approaches can improve HIV outcomes. Fir ..read more

In recent years Kenya has experienced notable successes in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and initiating children living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment, but progress in scaling up newer point of care testing approaches and maintaining children on treatment regimens has been slower. Since March of 2020, when the first Covid-19 cases in Kenya were reported, quarantine measures, the diversion of health resources to outbreak response, and supply chain disruptions have exacerbated existing challenges but also provide opportunities for innovations and improved service delivery fo ..read more

In this episode of AIDS 2021, we discuss pre-exposure prophylaxis — PrEP — a critical HIV prevention tool for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in countries with high HIV burdens. Janet Fleischman speaks with Mitchell Warren, the executive director of AVAC, and two women working with Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute in South Africa – Khanyi Kwatsha, a 26-year-old PrEP ambassador, and Elmari Briedenhann, a senior project manager. They discuss the importance of PrEP for AGYW and highlight innovative approaches to better reach this group and to address the inherent chall ..read more

In this episode, Sara Allinder speaks with Anton Pozniak, President, and Kevin Osborne, Executive Director, of the International AIDS Society (IAS). Dr. Pozniak discusses his personal experiences as a physician and the centrality of effective media messaging on HIV. Mr. Osborne dives into his experience as a person living with HIV and the urgency of sustaining high-level political commitment to end the epidemic. They also discuss the upcoming IAS conference in Mexico City in July 2019, how to keep HIV center stage in the media, and positive messaging about living with HIV ..read more

In this episode, Steve Morrison and Andrew Schwartz speak with Kenneth Cole, the iconic fashion designer and HIV/AIDS activist. They discuss the unprecedented campaign launched in the mid-1980s which used advertising platforms in bold and provocative ways to confront the stigma and silence surrounding HIV/AIDS in New York City. Cole shares what motivated him to become an HIV activist, the continued imperative of educating younger generations about the risk of HIV, and the continued need for bipartisan leadership ..read more

In this episode, Steve Morrison speaks to Cynthia Carey-Grant, Oakland co-chair for the AIDS 2020 conference. The two discuss Carey-Grant’s beginning in health activism, her role as the Oakland co-chair for the upcoming global conference on HIV/AIDS, and the impact of Trump’s initiative to end HIV by 2030. She delves into what a successful AIDS 2020 conference would look like and HIV as an issue of reproductive justice ..read more

In this episode, Andrew Schwartz interviews Congresswoman Barbara Lee. She represents California’s 13th district, which includes the city of Oakland, and is the co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus. Rep. Lee tells Andrew how critically important it is that the International AIDS Conference is returning to the Bay Area after 30 years ..read more

Dr. Anthony Fauci has had a distinguished career in public service, serving as Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health under six successive presidents. Working at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS over the past 40 years, he has gained an unparalleled perspective on the breathtaking progress that has been made in treatment and prevention. Dr. Fauci believes that we have all we need to end this epidemic, if we couple our scientific tools with active community engagement. He joins Steve and Andrew on this episode of AID ..read more