http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/10/30/honoring-legacy-ryan-white
President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. It represents our ongoing commitment to ensuring access to needed HIV/AIDS care and treatment. The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked very closely with Congress on this bipartisan legislation, and the consensus document developed by the HIV/AIDS advocacy community was an important part of the process. We were so pleased that Jeanne White-Ginder, Ryan White’s mother, was here at the bill signing.
Congratulations in getting the stimulus package through. However It was with sadness that I saw the compromises made by the white House. Specially the funds for Hiv Aids so desperately needed. I translated your strategy to fight this pandemia and hope you get to it as soon as possible.Lives are at stake, financial ruin to many, and lack of hope for those who impatiently see the alarming rise among latinos,afro americans the young and the old. Mental Health is as important as medicines, Rehabilitation Programs sorely needed. And involvement by all who voted for change for the Bush administration let many things slip by for this particular group.I firmly believe in you and your strategies for all the areas mentioned above. Perhaps a little impatient but that seems to be a characteristic of those burdened with the bureaucracy
Mr. President, First Lady we need your full commitment which I am sure you both have.
I knew that the USA had two options, two different routes to take. One, the continuation of the Bush politics, and two, the politics of Hope and change that barack offered.
Miraculously, the Nation decided for the second. It was difficult to break the stigma that historically existed for centuries in the Nation. Who could have ever thought that an African-American could reach to the White House as Pesident of the United States.
Even though I found it to be difficult, I have learned that nothing is impossible. I have lived with AIDS for sixteen years, and I have never let this disease overcome my willpower to serve and deliver help to those that need it.
When years passed and I saw the amount of money spent in a useless war, I asked myself: whu are we not fighting the real war? The war against illnesses, poverty, foreclosures, unemployment, drugs and the maany teenagers that decided to take the illegal fast tracK, and stopped going to school.
Sometimes I really felt that we were working against the impossible.
And then came Obame, change and Hope. And as i did, so did millions all over. We needed to do something and the Obama Brigades were creted by special people who also wanted to be part of change. And activities to raise money started, and like I did, many waited for their dissability cheacks or social security checks, or pensions, and we started contributing to the campaign.
And we broke records, because we had a cause and the man that would deliver it: the change and Hope that Obama offered us.
And our union in hearts and spirits made the change come true. Barack Obama is the President of the United States. he is everybodys President, and that makes me feel really good.
I would love to be in Washington DC on November 9th. It would really be a miracle. i am just waiting for it to happen...
God Bless You All!
Congratulations to all my faithful Obama supporters. We've been going for nearly two years and it feels unbelievable to know that the campaign is over, and America's future just got brighter.
I just wanted to let all of my fellow Obama campaign workers and volunteers know that if you are unable to find hotels for the Presidential Inauguration, log onto www.ukpe-robertsfoundation.org. Our Foundation was donated over 100 hotels for the inauguration many months ago and we still have 32 rooms available at coveted locations in D.C.
Military personnel, teachers, seniors, students and employees of non-profit organizations should request a 10% discount.
All reservations are 5 days/ 5 nights from January 17 - January 22, 2009, and range from $2,711 - $4,520, depending on the hotel and location. We have suites available with living rooms with pull-out beds and kitchenettes (great if you want to share the cost with others).
To call the Foundation, dial (877) 619-5936.
Hope to see many of my faithful friends there.
God Bless each of you for all your work!
Dionne
Our HIV/AIDS Epidemic is not over; it is far from over and will need a commitment from our new President and the Administration, recognizing that a country in distress is definitely a homeland security issue. We often do not recognize our own health care as our biggest threat to homeland security but let's not forget!
To kick off the 2008 USCA, twelve AIDS quilt panels were on display at Miami International Airport to greet this year's participants. The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and the largest ongoing community arts project in the world. This World AIDS Day, December 1, 2008, you are invited to host a display to bring the Quilt and its message to your community.
http://www.americansforhealthcare.org/
Watch the ad now which is on the airwaves on MSNBC, CNN, and other major news stations as of yesterday.
With 6 days left until Election Day, we've got to press the issue of preventive care. Watch our new ad and share with friends and family: Click here
Thanks for doing all that you can,
Lynda TranAmericans for Health Care"
KEY FACTS ON HEALTH CARE COSTS
The high and rapidly rising cost of health care affects the financial security of families and the economic health of the nation. Thirty percent of respondents in a recent Kaiser Poll reported that they had experienced a serious problem paying for health care and health insurance as a result of recent changes in the economy, and a recent study found that 10% of people with problems paying medical bills were denied care because of medical bills.1 In 2004, 18% of the nonelderly population had out-of-pocket health costs that exceeded 10% of their disposable income.At a national level, health care accounts for a large and growing slice of the overall U.S. economic pie. The growth in health expenditures routinely outpaces growth in income, making health insurance less affordable for all Americans and making it more costly to extend coverage to the over 45 million Americans who are uninsured. These rising health costs also make public health programs more difficult to sustain, straining federal and state budgets.Finding a way to address high costs and cost growth without unreasonably reducing access to new and needed services is a significant challenge. How the candidates for the upcoming election propose to address the challenges posed by the increasing costs of health care is a critical component of the current political debates (Read More......).
Information provided by the Health Care Marketplace ProjectPublication Number: 7828Publish Date: 2008-10-17
Click on the links below to find out more about the National Response to the reported increase in HIV incidence in the United States:Elected Officials' Commitment to the HIV Crisis Local and National Organizations Respond Media Coverage
Watch this video:America's Forgotten Epidemic on (CBS) To help you make an informed decision in the presidential election, CBS News is devoting a large part of our broadcasts until Nov. 4 to telling you where the candidates stand on major issues - from the war in Iraq to health insurance to education … and a lot more. Each piece will be an in-depth look at the issues facing the 44th president. In this installment, CNN's Sanjay Gupta, a CBS News contributor, reports on how the proposed HIV/AIDS policies of Barack Obama and John McCain would affect your community. The Issue It was a sight seldom seen in Washington - bi-partisan praise for President Bush's re-authorization of a plan for global AIDS relief. It's called PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), and it's the largest international health initiative ever for a single disease. "The legacy of this administration will certainly be the work that this president has done regarding the global AIDS epidemic," said Phill Wilson, executive director of the Black AIDS Institute. But while we as a nation spend almost $10 billion annually to fight AIDS abroad, we spend less than 10 percent of that here at home. "There's tremendous irony that while we're showing leadership on the global epidemic, we're showing complete neglect on the domestic epidemic," Wilson said. And, estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal African Americans in particular are disproportionately affected. In the year 2006, blacks accounted for 45 percent of new HIV infections - more than 22,000. The reasons why? "One of them is shame - people are ashamed to have the infection. The other is stigma - they're punished if someone else finds out they have it," said Dr. Julie Geberding of the CDC, in testimony. "And then the third is ignorance." It's a pandemic that's spreading right under our nation's nose. The CDC estimates that one in 20 people living in Washington, D.C., is HIV positive. Astoundingly, in the capital of the world's wealthiest country, the incidence of HIV/AIDS is two-and-a-half times that of Port au Prince, the capital of Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries. C. Russell, 31, is HIV-positive, having been diagnosed nine years ago after having unprotected sex. "Eighty percent of the HIV cases in this city - your city - are in blacks," Gupta said. "They are," Russell said. "What is going on here?" Gupta said. "Apathy in our community. Apathy possibly maybe from the government," he said. "People not going and getting tested and getting treatment once they're diagnosed." Luckily, Russell's been able to keep the virus at bay, without the need for medication. But if he did get sick, care and treatment costs over his lifetime could easily top $275,000. "If it came to that, I'd want to know that I'd be taken care of. I'd want to know that I'd be able to get health care," he said. But it's not just men. The incidence rate for black women like Danielle, who is 42 and HIV-positive, is nearly 15 times that of whites - making AIDS a leading killer of African-American women ages 25 to 34. Danielle contracted HIV through sexual intercourse 15 years ago, and passed the virus onto one of her five children during pregnancy. "A lot of people are in the mindset that well, because we have medication we can take, it's OK if I become HIV positive," she said. But Danielle has no health insurance. So she'll be in trouble should she ever develop AIDS. "You couldn't get all the medications that you need, you couldn't get the sub-specialty care that you need. What would happen to someone like you?" Gupta said. "I'd probably get sicker. And possibly even die," she said. The Candidates So where do the candidates stand? For starters, they both fully support President Bush's PREFAR program - but that's focused on the epidemic overseas. So, what if you're one of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS? "We have to have a more effective AIDS policy. Studies have shown we may have undercounted the incidence of AIDS in this country," Barack Obama said. Obama's plan begins with his promise to sign universal health care legislation by the end of his first term as president. He wants to prevent HIV through sex education and by promoting HIV testing in minority communities. But the cornerstone of the Obama plan calls for a national HIV/AIDS strategy involving all federal agencies. "When we give money to developing countries to fight AIDS, we demand they have a national strategy. And yet we don't have a national AIDS strategy in this country," Wilson said. "I think we need a domestic plan," Sen. John McCain said. McCain's prescription to prevent HIV: Emphasize abstinence programs. For those with pre-existing conditions such as AIDS, he wants to establish "guaranteed access plans" for affordable insurance. His prescription for rising drug costs? Greater competition among drug companies. But the centerpiece of the McCain blueprint? A $2,500 tax credit for individuals to purchase the health care coverage of their choice. The Impact "How does that affect you?" Gupta asked Russell. "It sounds like I'd get a tax credit for money that I would spend on health care, which is okay, but I'd rather have the health care," he said. "You also have to have to have a health insurance company that accepts you," Gupta said. "Exactly," Russell said. For now, Russell may not benefit more from either candidate's plan, because he already has health insurance through his employer. On the other hand, Danielle would have a better chance with either candidate than she does now to find affordable coverage. But there was one thing that Obama said that captured her attention. "Especially in the African-American and Latino communities, it is skyrocketing," Obama said. "Just the fact that, I guess Senator Obama speaks specifically to the community of which I belong," she said. "It makes me know that he cares about the African-American community." Nevertheless, both Danielle and Russell are hopeful that the leadership America has shown overseas will inspire the next president to show leadership on the AIDS epidemic here at home. © MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
After last night's debate, McCain's concept of providing health care for all does showed to be completely off base and out of touch with the realities of todays U.S. healthcarecrisis. He has never had to worry about deductibles and all members of Congress are able to just walk down some stairs, get immediate access to a doctor, and immediate access to prescription drugs which they do not have to negotiate. A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows the detrimental healthcare disparities currently facing the nation, while we are only worried about bailing out the top and leaving the bottom and in between hanging with no real solutions to solve our health care crisis........I wonder what the tax savings for the rich will do for our corrupted health care system which profits off disease, rather than prevention of disease.
Family Health Coverage Premiums Rise to $12,680 Annually, With More Workers Facing High Deductibles, Benchmark Study Finds Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose to $12,680 annually for family coverage this year, with employees on average paying $3,354 out of their paychecks to cover their share of the cost, according to the benchmark 2008 Employer Health Benefits Survey released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust. In addition, the scope of coverage has changed, with many more workers now enrolled in high-deductible plans, only some of which support a tax-preferred savings option such as a Health Savings Account.
Encourage Senator Obama and Senator Biden to vote on this important legislation!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Circe J. Gray Le Compte, Director of CommunicationsNational Minority AIDS Council, 1931 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009Telephone: (202) 234-5120 ext. 309; (202) 352-7240E-mail: communications@nmac.org * Web: http://www.nmac.org/
--please circulate--
OBAMA CHANThttp://www.rabbishefagold.com/ObamaChant.htmlMy teacher Rabbi Shefa Gold offers this new chant weaving together both Christian and Hebrew Scripture for our use. If you are so drawn, learn it, teach it, chant it vocally and sub-vocally wherever you may go. Let the vowels open your throat; keep the prophetic fires burning.
According to an article in the New York Times (August 3, 2008), the United States has significantly underreported the number of new H.I.V. infections occurring nationally each year, with a study released here on Saturday showing that the annual infection rate is 40 percent higher than previously estimated.
In order to effectively reform the U.S. healthcare system we have to help our candidates to stay on top of the issues, rather than divert to glorifying teen pregnancy and worrying about "lipstick statements" so that our real issues do not get addressed, as has been shown in the past failures of our Administration. An important conference is coming up, one which will address one of the greatest disasters in the U.S. healthcare system: the failure to address HIV/AIDS.
The 2008 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) will take place September 18-21, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Since 1997, USCA, the largest annual HIV/AIDS meeting in the United States, has strengthened the domestic community-based response to HIV/AIDS by bringing together professionals from across the country to learn new skills and build partnerships and collaborations. The conference’s extensive selection of over 200 institutes, seminars, workshops and roundtables sessions addressing every aspect of the AIDS epidemic from nutrition and treatment to prevention and international issues enables participants to customize their training and networking experiences according to their unique professional needs.
To learn more about USCA, visit: http://www.2008usca.org/; call: (202) 483-NMAC (6622); or e-mail: conferences@nmac.org.
About USCA’s Sponsor, NMAC The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) has developed leadership within communities of color to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS since 1987. NMAC has furthered this mission by providing a public policy education program; national and regional trainings and conferences; treatment and research programs and trainings; numerous publications; and a website: www.nmac.org. The agency also serves an association of AIDS service organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, health departments and other groups assisting people and families. NMAC's advocacy efforts are funded through private funders and donors only.
As part of the leadership on Women's issues, our teenages must understand that it is not necessarily healthy to force a marriage due to pregnancy. I am sure that Levi Johnston is completely out of sorts and never thought that he would have to take down his website expressing his true feelings. He was not ready for a family, and he was not ready for a constructive future. Somewhere, this boy did not get the guidance he needed to see himself as a productive part of society, rather her enjoyed drinking and referred to himself as a f....redneck, not such a pleasant description. He was very clear in his desire not to have children.
This is the type of person you want to marry your daughter, mothers? Just because she made a mistake? Why would anyone force their daughter into marriage like this? For the sake of the media? To appear perfect when no family is perfect?
So why not allow the boy to get some counseling into future educational pursuits that may benefit him so that his selfesteem may grow before he gets forced into marriage?
Is this the type of women's leadership we can expect from a VP? This is the type of leadership you want for your children? Is this what they do in small towns? I thought they had grassroots community efforts to decrease teen pregnancy, increase high school graduations and improve sex education in schools. Those efforts usually come from the community, not the mayor's office so I can see why these types of efforts do not show themselves even in the governor's mansion.
Then why is it so hard for anyone to address these issues with our VP without being blamed for being sexist, too hard or unfair? When you place your children on stage with all the inadequacies that relate directly to our failed policies for teen and women's health how can one not ask these questions?
