FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Naina Khanna
510.681.1169
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WORLD Statement on the announcement of Dr. Grant Colfax as the New Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP)
OAKLAND, CA – March 14, 2012 – Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases (WORLD) congratulates Grant Colfax, MD, on today’s announcement that he will lead the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP). This announcement coincides with Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Munoz’ announcement this morning of the creation of a working group on women, violence and HIV.
Dr. Colfax will now spearhead implementation of the Obama Administration’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and WORLD encourages Dr. Colfax to advance a women-centered HIV/AIDS services approach that integrates the intersection of HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and violence against women.
Dr. Colfax, who most recently served as Director of HIV Prevention San Francisco, a city hard-hit by the HIV epidemic, has been a staunch advocate for innovative approaches including “Test and Treat” and community viral load mapping.
“WORLD is eager to work with Dr. Colfax and the ONAP team to ensure strong leadership of women, particularly women living with HIV/AIDS, in the national HIV/AIDS policy debate. Today’s announcement of a new working group presents an excellent opportunity to achieve an improved integrated service delivery that looks at the impact of violence on the health of women living with HIV/AIDS,” says Cynthia Carey-Grant, WORLD Executive Director.
Today’s events come on the heels of key policy discussions via the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) where national leaders on HIV prevention, care and research emphasized the devastating impact of violence against women living with HIV. Ongoing discussions have also focused on the general lack of qualify, integrated care for women. WORLD and other HIV/AIDS advocates have called for gender-specific metrics within the National HIV/AIDS Strategy that will result in specific, measurable outcomes to improve services for all people living with, and at risk for, HIV/AIDS.