The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has announced over $3.2 million in new grants that will further its mission to assist the most marginalized populations vulnerable to HIV infection. These new awards brought EJAF’s final total grant-making commitments for calendar 2011 to a record $8,316,871, with disbursements totaling $7,006,871 last year.

These grants represent EJAF’s continuing commitment to fund demographics and geographic regions that are seriously impacted by HIV/AIDS and under-served by traditional funders. Grant expenditures totaling $3,221,622 were awarded for 19 new and 29 renewal grants, including:

• health services for Black women, one of the highest HIV-impacted populations in this country;
• innovative programs focused on the health and rights of gay and bisexual men throughout the U.S.;
• programs designed to help people with HIV who are leaving prison to access and stay on treatment and maintain their health as they reintegrate into society;
• small community grants supporting services for gay men throughout Latin America;
• clinical and mental health services for vulnerable populations in the Caribbean; and
• additional funding totaling $1.6 million over two years to support over 50 community organizations providing needle exchange and harm reduction services for injection drug users.

“Through the efforts of hundreds of privately-funded syringe access programs, HIV incidence due to injection drug use in the U.S. has declined from 25% of all infections in 2000 to 9%,” said Executive Director Scott Campbell. “Scaled-up syringe access programming could bring injection-related HIV infections down to zero. Given Congress’ unfortunate reinstatement of the ban on the use of federal funding for syringe exchange programs, EJAF’s increased investments as one of the top three funders in this field are particularly crucial.”

“For twenty years, EJAF has remained consistent in our mission, even as we’ve increased the scope and reach of our grant-making,” added Chairman David Furnish. “Our most recent grants continue this historic focus, dedicating critical funding to the most urgent and under-resourced aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/evarinaldiphotography/

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More than 60 Black celebrities have united with Greater Than AIDS to bring attention to the severe and disproportionate epidemic facing Black Americans and reduce the stigma surrounding the disease. Black Americans account for half of the approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in this country today — and 44 percent of new infections — while representing just 12 percent of the population.

Blacks are also more likely to die of AIDS as compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Coinciding with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Feb. 7), Greater Than AIDS is debuting new public service ads (PSAs), coordinated social media posts and other messages from popular Black television and film actors, directors, producers, and others in Hollywood about the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS in the Black community.

Many of the participating talent spoke about people they knew who are living with or have died from the disease. Participating talent will be supporting the campaign’s themes of unity, hope and empowerment through their own Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms and through personal appearances.

“This is an unprecedented response from the Black Hollywood community to an issue that has touched so many of our lives,” said Phill Wilson, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute. The Black AIDS Institute is a co-founding partner with the Kaiser Family Foundation of Greater Than AIDS.

“Our voice is one of the most powerful tools we have in combating the ignorance and stigma that still surrounds this disease.” The celebrities featured in this campaign are all members of the Black AIDS Institute’s Black Hollywood Task Force on AIDS, which works to engage the Hollywood community in an effort to fight HIV/AIDS.

“The artists and executives who have joined us in this campaign realize that no matter the celebrity, they are also members of the Black community, and they are trying to do their part.”

“HIV/AIDS is a deeply personal issue for many Black Americans, yet the issue is too often silent in many communities,” said Tina Hoff, Senior Vice President and Director, Health Communication and Media Partnerships, Kaiser Family Foundation.

According to a national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 60 percent — three in five — Black Americans know someone living with HIV/AIDS or who has died from the disease; for most, a family member or close friend.

The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Black AIDS Institute are executive producers.  Linda Jones of The Mass Appeal produced, and Vanessa Williams (SOUL FOOD) with Quincy LeNear and Deondray Gossett (THE DL CHRONICLES, THE VOICE) directed.

Black Hollywood Task Force GREATER THAN AIDS PARTICIPATING TALENT:

• Laila Ali, professional athlete/actress/spokesperson
• Tatyana Ali, actress (THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR/NBC, LOVE THAT GIRL!/TV ONE)
• Anthony Anderson, actor (LAW & ORDER/NBC, THE BERNIE MAC SHOW/FOX, K-VILLE/FOX, THE SHIELD/FX NETWORK, THE DEPARTED, TRANSFORMERS)
• Robb Armstrong, nationally syndicated cartoonist  (JUMPSTART)
• Essence Atkins, actress (ARE WE THERE YET/TBS, HALF AND HALF/UPN, SMART GUY/THE WB)
• Rochelle Aytes, actress (THE FORGOTTEN/ABC)
• Obba Babatunde, actor (PRIVATE PRACTICE/ABC,  HALF & HALF/UPN)
• Alimi Ballard, actor (NCIS/CBS, NUMB3RS/CBS)
• Denise Boutte, actress (MEET THE BROWNS/TBS, WHY DID I GET MARRIED)
• RaVaughn Brown, singer/actress (COLUMBIA RECORDS)
• Rhyon Brown, actress (LINCOLN HEIGHTS/ABC FAMILY)
• Yvette Nicole Brown, actress, (COMMUNITY/NBC)
• Anthony Burrell, actor (THE SKINNY)
• Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd, casting director (SPARKLE, JUMPING THE BROOM, NOTORIOUS, STOMP THE YARD 1 & 2)
• Affion Crockett, actor/comedian (IN THE FLOW WITH AFFION CROCKETT/FOX)
• Leah Daniels, casting director (PRECIOUS, LOVE THAT GIRL!, ATL, THE WAYANS BROS, THE PAPERBOY)
• Gary Dourdan, actor (CSI/CBS, JUMPING THE BROOM)
• Bill Duke, filmmaker/director/actor
• Nadine Ellis, actress (LET’S STAY TOGETHER/BET)
• Jennia Fredrique, actress (THE SKINNY)
• Jennifer Freeman, actress (MY WIFE AND KIDS/ABC)
• Jason George, actor (GREY’S ANATOMY/ABC, OFF THE MAP/ABC)
• Lance Gross, actor (TYLER PERRY’S HOUSE OF PAYNE/TBS)
• Dennis Haysbert, actor (24/FOX, THE UNIT/CBS)
• Samuel L. Jackson, actor/producer (JUNGLE FEVER, PULP FICTION, CAPTAIN AMERICA, STAR WARS III, IRON MAN 2, KILL BILL 2, CHANGING LANES, SHAFT, A TIME TO KILL)
• Carlon Jeffery, actor (ANT FARM/DISNEY)
• Jill Marie Jones, actress (GIRLFRIENDS/UPN & THE CW)
• Orlando Jones, actor/comedian (MAD TV/FOX, THE EVIDENCE/ABC)
• Tamala Jones, actress (CASTLE/ABC)
• Kenny Lattimore, award winning musical artist
• Robinne Lee, actress (HOUSE OF PAYNE/TBS, SEVEN POUNDS)
• Nia Long, actress (THIRD WATCH/NBC, THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR/NBC)
• MC Lyte, musical artist (President of the L.A. Chapter of the Grammys Recording Academy)
• Eva Marcille, model/actress (AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL/THE CW, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS/CBS)
• Christopher Massey, actor (ZOEY 101/NICKELODEON)
• Kyle Massey, actor (THAT’S SO RAVEN/DISNEY, CORY IN THE HOUSE/DISNEY, DANCING WITH THE STARS/ABC)
• Dr. Lisa Masterson, M.D., host (THE DOCTORS/CBS)
• Elizabeth Mathis, actress (TRON: LEGACY)
• Rashad McCants, NBA player
• Nicki Micheaux, actress (LINCOLN HEIGHTS/ABC FAMILY)
• Tia Mowry, actress (THE GAME/BET)
• Naturi Naughton, actress/musical artist (NOTORIOUS, FAME, 3LW, PLAYBOY CLUB/NBC)
• Michaela Pererira, anchor (KTLA NEWS)
• James Pickens, Jr., actor (GREY’S ANATOMY/ABC)
• Isa Rahman, actor/model
• Gina Ravera, actress (THE CLOSER/TNT)
• REBORN, gospel hip hop artist
• Robi Reed, Vice President of Talent and Casting (BET)
• Dominique Reighard, model (AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL/THE CW)
• Shaun Robinson, ACCESS HOLLYWOOD
• J Rome, musical artist (COLUMBIA RECORDS)
• B. SCOTT, celebrity online blogger
• Tasha Smith, actress (TYLER PERRY’S FOR BETTER OR WORSE/TBS)
• Jurnee Smollett, actress (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS/NBC, THE DEFENDERS/CBS, THE GREAT DEBATERS,  GRIDIRON GANG)
• Jussie Smollett, Actor (THE SKINNY)
• Chelsea Tavares, actress (UNFABULOUS/NICKELODEON, JUST JORDAN/NICKELODEON)
• Tamara Taylor, actress (BONES/FOX)
• Bobb’e J. Thompson, actor (30 ROCK/NBC , TYLER PERRY’S FOR BETTER OR WORSE/TBS, BOBB’E SAYS/CARTOON NETWORK, THAT’S SO RAVEN/DISNEY ROLE MODELS)
• Tammy Townsend, actress (LINCOLN HEIGHTS/ABC FAMILY, SHERRI/LIFETIME TV, ROCK ME, BABY/UPN, FAMILY MATTERS)
• Brian White, actor (MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE/TNT, GOOD DEEDS)
• Michael Jai White, actor (TYLER PERRY’S FOR BETTER OR WORSE/TBS)
• Jesse Williams, actor (GREY’S ANATOMY/ABC)
• Oren Williams, actor (REBOUND, COLD CASE/CBS)
• Tyler James Williams, actor (EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS/THE CW)
• Vanessa Williams, director/actress (MELROSE PLACE/FOX, SOUL FOOD/SHOWTIME)
• Zachary Williams, actor (ROMEO!/NICKELODEON , LINCOLN HEIGHTS/ABC FAMILY)
• Zo Williams, radio personality (HOST OF THE VOICE OF REASON/FOXX HOLE SATELLITE RADIO)
• Camille Winbush, actress (SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER/ABC FAMILY, THE BERNIE MAC SHOW/FOX)
• Blake Young-Fountain, actor (THE SKINNY, TWO BROKE GIRLS/CBS)

Greater Than AIDS is an unprecedented collaboration among a broad coalition of public and private sector partners united in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States, in particular among Black Americans and other disproportionately affected groups.  Through a national media campaign and targeted community outreach, Greater Than AIDS aims to increase knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS and confront the stigma surrounding the disease.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/greaterthanaids

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Ambassador Michael A. Battle of the United States Mission to the African Union (USAU), was one of the volunteers on Thursday 1st December 2011, to do the HIV screening offered by the African Union (AU) Medical Services Directorate as the AU joins the rest of the International and Continental communities this day, to commemorate the World AIDS Day.

Several free will persons interested to know their status have been going through the Volunteer Counselling and Testing (VCT) services for HIV that started on Monday, 28th November 2011, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, until Friday, 2nd December 2011 at the Headquarters of the AU Commission (AUC), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The exercise is one of the week-long activities organized by the Department of Social Affairs in collaboration with the Medical Services Directorate of the AU Commission to mark the commemoration of the World Aids Day.

Ambassador Battle was accompanied by his collaborators who witnessed the Volunteer Counselling and Testing provided by the AU Commission’s Medical Services Directorate (AU MSD) everybody.

The Medical team expressed appreciation to the gesture of the Ambassador saying that, the example will send out a very powerful message to encourage the people who are still hesitating to get tested.

“I am extremely proud of the African Union for taking leadership on HIV AIDS Day. AIDS is a disease that affects people all over the world. By accepting the volunteer screening today, I want to show that there is no shame in coming out and being tested and screened. I also want to encourage more people to do the same” Ambassador Battle explained. He advised that, the earlier a person can get tested for HIV, the more easy it is to cure “If we could get more and more people to just come out and have a test it will be better for the entire world”, he underscored.

Ambassador Battle announced that the same screening exercise is done at the US Embassy on the occasion of the World AIDS Day, but he chose to do it at the African Union “to show support and solidarity with the African continent” he emphasized.

Dr. Kilenga Naftal, Consultant and Senior Biologist of the AU MSD, thanked the US Mission and Ambassador Battle for the symbolic and very important gesture. He presented the different services offered by the MSD including medical consultations, paediatric services, scanning for breast cancer, dental and laboratory services. Dr Kilenga also stated that the MSD do not only provide HIV testing but also treatment for HIV/AIDS for more than 10 years.

It is worth recalling that, the AU Volunteer Counselling and Testing Services (VCT) is currently taking place inside an erected tent in front of the Medical Center where medical experts and practitioners are receiving people of all classes and works of life, including AU Staff who are interested to know about their status.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Mission-to-the-African-Union/93218692247

The article World AIDS Day: US Ambassador as African Union HIV Screening Volunteer appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Ambassador Michael A. Battle of the United States Mission to the African Union (USAU), was one of the volunteers on the 1. of December to do the HIV screening offered by the African Union (AU) Medical Services Directorate as the AU joins the rest of the International and Continental communities this day, to commemorate the World AIDS Day.

Several free will persons interested to know their status have been going through the Volunteer Counseling and Testing (VCT) services for HIV that started on Monday, 28th November 2011, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, until Friday, 2nd December 2011 at the Headquarters of the AU Commission (AUC), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The exercise is one of the week-long activities organized by the Department of Social Affairs in collaboration with the Medical Services Directorate of the AU Commission to mark the commemoration of the World Aids Day. Ambassador Battle was accompanied by his collaborators who witnessed the Volunteer Counseling and Testing provided by the AU Commission’s Medical Services Directorate (AU MSD) everybody.

The Medical team expressed appreciation to the gesture of the Ambassador saying that, the example will send out a very powerful message to encourage the people who are still hesitating to get tested. “I am extremely proud of the African Union for taking leadership on HIV AIDS Day. AIDS is a disease that affects people all over the world.

By accepting the volunteer screening today, I want to show that there is no shame in coming out and being tested and screened. I also want to encourage more people to do the same” Ambassador Battle explained. He advised that, the earlier a person can get tested for HIV, the more easy it is to cure “If we could get more and more people to just come out and have a test it will be better for the entire world,” he underscored.

Ambassador Battle announced that the same screening exercise is done at the US Embassy on the occasion of the World AIDS Day, but he chose to do it at the African Union “to show support and solidarity with the African continent” he emphasized. Dr. Kilenga Naftal, Consultant and Senior Biologist of the AU MSD, thanked the US Mission and Ambassador Battle for the symbolic and very important gesture.

He presented the different services offered by the MSD including medical consultations, pediatric services, scanning for breast cancer, dental and laboratory services. Dr Kilenga also stated that the MSD do not only provide HIV testing but also treatment for HIV/AIDS for more than 10 years.

It is worth recalling that, the AU Volunteer Counseling and Testing Services (VCT) is currently taking place inside an erected tent in front of the Medical Center where medical experts and practitioners are receiving people of all classes and works of life, including AU Staff who are interested to know about their status.

Image Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Mission-to-the-African-Union/93218692247

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