Home | Leadership | Site Map | Contact Us
  
 
 

World AIDS Day - December 1, 2008

Dear AMSA leaders and friends of the AIDS activist community:

The momentum around this World AIDS Day is mounting! AMSA Headquarters has organized our strategy for World AIDS Day around 2 critical themes:

  1. Halting the Feminization of HIV/AIDS
  2. Guaranteeing access to Essential Medicines

AMSA is working passionately to implement national policy and to provide AMSA chapters with fun and effective events to effect these policy goals at the local level.

Please check out our World AIDS Day Toolkit for more ideas on what you can organize at your school. In concert with this World AIDS Day, AMSA has just released two 30-minute, do-it-yourself powerpoints on the feminization of HIV/AIDS and on access to essential medicines. Organize a lunch meeting with your chapter and present our World AIDS Day powerpoints yourself!

In his first 100 days in office,
our Nation's next President must commit to:

  • Integrate HIV and Family Planning services in PEPFAR focus countries - Women should be able to get their HIV care from the same health care worker that provides their primary care.

  • Rescind the sex worker pledge requirement ("Mexico City Policy") - The U.S. must protect, not condemn and restrict, access to HIV and primary health care for vulnerable populations like sex workers.

  • Repeal the "Global Gag Rule" - The U.S. must protect the reproductive rights of women and girls, so that countries receiving U.S. foreign aid can counsel their patients on comprehensive family planning options, including the facts about abortion (PEPFAR is exempt from this rule, though has a similar, laxer "reporting requirement" that should also be rescinded).

Feminization Panel Audio

  • Issue an Executive order that commits to no new trade deals and non-enforcement of existing agreements that prioritize drug company monopolies over access to affordable generic medicines

What is our policy goal?
Pass the Global AIDS community's transition document in the next President's first 100 days
Who should we target?
1) Key transition team members in your state, and
2) the next U.S. President
What tactics can we use to reach our policy goal?
Organize a call-in, rally, vigil, or other event from our toolkit to make our specific demands

DAY OF ACTION PRODUCTS

There was a time in the not so distant past when the Health Minister of South Africa denied the presence of HIV/AIDS in the country. The link between HIV and AIDS was ignored, medicines dismissed, and prescriptions for eating beet root and other plants were given out. After much public outcry, both in Africa and Internationally, the Health Minister came around showing his stance publicly with a t-shirt stating "I'm HIV Positive". Metaphorically speaking.

This line of shirts and personal items is in that spirit, as a remembrance to all those lost, those still fighting, and those whom still need our help. This year, in solidarity we call on our world leaders to adopt the best AIDS Agenda, domestically and globally.

All products are 100% customizable and may be transferred to different styles of products such as heart shirts, different colors or product altogether. Suit yourself - literally.
   
 




Feminization of HIV/AIDS


Access to Essential Medicines

WORLD AIDS DAY MATERIALS

On World AIDS Day, AMSA Joins DC Fights Back
Housing is life or death for people living with HIV. Washington, D.C. has the dubious distinction of having the highest AIDS case rate in the country alongside one of the toughest housing markets. On December 1, 2008, AMSA members joined DC Fights Back and demanded an end to the ineptitude that has allowed 278 HIV positive individuals to languish on a waiting list for housing vouchers.

 
 
 
©2008 American Medical Student Association | AMSA Foundation

© All materials on this site are intended for the express use of health science students. Other use or reproduction of
these materials requires written authorization from the American Medical Student Association