Will the National AIDS Strategy Work?

This July President Obama fulfilled his campaign promise of enacting a National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) for the United States. The launch of this strategy marks the first time in the almost 30 years of America's HIV/AIDS epidemic that our nation will undertake a coordinated response and hold decision-makers accountable for achieving results.

In this issue we begin the first in a series examining the NHAS' impact on Black Americans. Writer Rod McCullom examines part one of the strategy—the plan to reduce the number of new HIV infections. What works for us, where do we have concerns, and in what areas does the community need to keep applying pressure? These issues were also discussed at a forum last week, where Philadelphia AIDS-service organization BEBASHI hosted a conversation about the NHAS and the highlights of the International AIDS Conference in Vienna. Ayana Jones reports .

One of the most important aspects of HIV/AIDS care is bridging HIV-positive people into appropriate care and treatment. Click here to read more about the formal and informal networks that women often create to support other women living with HIV/AIDS get into care and stay there.

Yours in the struggle,

Phill