I'm happy to share with you the newly released special Health Action AIDS edition of The Record, PHR's print newsletter. It's been a busy year for the HAA team, traveling throughout the country and across continents to mobilize health professionals in the global fight against AIDS. Please download the newsletter (PDF) to read about our journey as we met so many of you throughout the past year.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and HAA staff at the XVII International AIDS Conference, Mexico City.
I am continually inspired by the advocates who help us do our work, and I am especially proud of the work highlighted in the cover story of this edition—"PHR Played Key Role in Strengthening PEPFAR."
With your help, we successfully advocated for critical improvements in the new PEPFAR bill, including an increase in the authorized funding level from $15 billion to $48 billion, a provision for the training and retaining of 140,000 new professional health workers and the removal of the statutory travel ban language for HIV-positive individuals, which is a critical step to removing the ban completely.
While the bill is not everything we had hoped, the successful advocacy of health professionals is encouraging as we continue to rise to the challenges that lie ahead.
You will also find stories on HAA events and activities throughout the country, our work with East African partners to advance the right to health and spotlights on harm reduction, health workforce advocacy and PHR's student program. Dr. Eric Goosby, HAA advisor and CEO of the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, offers insights on the status of the fight against global AIDS and Frank Donaghue, PHR's CEO, introduces you to Dr. Helen Potts who joins the team as our new Chief Program Officer for Health.
Take a look at the newsletter and keep checking the PHR blog to stay updated on exciting HAA activities in the coming month!