C.A.R.E. Knowledge Blog

From the Long Beach Post's Brian Addison: PHOTOS: Drag Queens and More Traipse along Broadway for Easter Charity

Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal kicked off the event with an uplifting message that spirituality is not a judge. "I have my beliefs," she stated to the packed room. "My belief is rooted in everyone. And I truly believe that Mary's is the House of Worship, where everyone is accepted."

Jewels, the host and MC of Hats and Heels, proudly led the way down Broadway, stopping at the World Famous Falcon and eventually ending at Silver Fox with performances at both. Councilmember Robert Garcia ended the evening with a $500 donation to C.A.R.E. while watching the final performance at the Fox.

More at Long Beach Post...

Creating an AIDS-Free Generation

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke November 8 at the NIH about United States AIDS policy. She began the policy announcement by speaking about prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and reducing transmission by male circumcision in Africa, two evidence-based approaches to reducing trasmission through medical intervention. 

In June, I visited the Buguruni Health Center in Tanzania, and there I met a woman living with HIV who had recently given birth to a baby boy. She had been coming to the clinic throughout her pregnancy for medication and information because she desperately wanted her boy to get a healthy start in life, and most especially, she wanted him to be born HIV-free. When we met, she had just received the best news she could have hoped for. Her son did not have the virus. And thanks to the treatment she was getting there, she would live to see him grow up.

This is what American leadership and shared responsibility can accomplish for all mothers and children...

In addition to preventing mother-to-child transmission, an effective combination prevention strategy has to include voluntary medical male circumcision. In the past few years, research has proven that this low-cost procedure reduces the risk of female-to-male transmission by more than 60 percent, and that the benefit is life-long.

Here in Long Beach, thanks to the Bickerstaff Clinic at Long Beach Memorial, there hasn't been a case of mother-to-child transmission. Here in the developed world, anti-viral therapy is the standard of care for HIV-positive pregnant women. 

We probably won't be seeing male circumcision here in the West. Studies in the devloped world haven't shown the same protective effect, either due to the different strains of HIV, the different routes of transmission, or other confounding factors. 

Clinton third method is something that isn't being done in the United States, and shows great promise for reducing new cases of HIV here at home; it's what will be known as "test and treat":

Thanks to U.S. Government-funded research published just a few months ago, we now know that if you treat a person living with HIV effectively, you reduce the risk of transmission to a partner by 96 percent.

Of course, not everyone takes the medication exactly as directed, and so some people may not get the maximum level of protection. But even so, this new finding will have a profound impact on the fight against AIDS.

For years, some have feared that scaling up treatment would detract from prevention efforts. Now we know beyond a doubt if we take a comprehensive view of our approach to the pandemic, treatment doesn’t take away from prevention. It adds to prevention. So let’s end the old debate over treatment versus prevention and embrace treatment as prevention...

Treating HIV-positive people before they become ill also has indirect economic benefits. It allows them to work, to support their families, contribute to their communities. It averts social costs, such as caring for orphans whose parents die of AIDS-related illnesses. A study published just last month weighed the costs and benefits and found that – I quote – “the economic benefits of treatment will substantially offset, and likely exceed, program costs within 10 years of investment.” In other words, treating people will not only save lives, it will generate considerable economic returns as well.

This is great news for developing countries currently receiving PEPFAR funding for HIV treatment. What's so unfortunate is that here in the United States, we have thousands of HIV-positive people on ADAP waiting lists.  Just last week I received a call from someone who has my job in Florida, and she said it can take two years from intake before a new patient can receive life-saving medications. I know that for person with an impacted immune system, help may come too late. 

As George Ayala pointed out in is opinion piece in the Advocate, for treatment as prevntion to succeed, a concerted effort needs to be made to target populations most severly affected by the virus. When you come in to the CARE Program for a free rapid HIV test, we'll ask about risk factors--specific behaviors that put you at risk. But just as importantly, we'll be asking about the types of people you may be having sex with. Transgenders, men-who-have-sex-with-men (no matter how they identify), the recently incarcerated, sex workers, and injection drug users--are all groups with high percentages of people living with HIV.

Since one in five of people with HIV don't know they're infected, it's essential that folks in high risk groups get tested on a regualar basis--and have quick access to medications. 

 

What's at the Bottom of Your Ralphs Receipt?

Ralph's Community Rewards Program makes it easy to donate to the CARE Program. If you shop at Ralphs and use a Ralps Rewards Card, up to 4% of the amount of your purchases  will be donated by Ralphs to the CARE Program--at no cost you you!

It's easy to participate. If you've signed up for the program before, you need to resubmit choice every year after September 1. Just print out this barcode letter which can be found on the donations page of the CARE Program under More Ways to Help. 

The next time you shop at Ralphs, hand the checkout clerk the letter along with your Rewards Card. Within a week a portion of your purches will help fund critical services of the CARE Program and ST. Mary Medical Center will appear at the bottom of your receipt.

It's that easy!

Volunteers Needed for Long Beach/CARE Triathlon

13th Annual Long Beach/CARE Triathlon will be taking place in and around the scenic harbors of downtown Long Beach on Sunday Sept. 18th at 7:00am.  One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit  The Comprehensive AIDS Resource Education (C.A.R.E.) Program at St. Mary's Medical Center.  The sprint distance makes this a great course for newcomers and a fast course for the experienced triathlete. A flat 1/2 mile swim inside the breakwater, a wide open 12-mile bike course along Shoreline Drive and through the Queen Mary property, and a run with picturesque ocean, harbor and downtown views on a 3.1 mile course. Join us the day before on Saturday Sept 17th from 10:00 to 4:00 for a free health and fitness expo with live music, food, and drink. Race packet pick-up and registration also open at the expo taking place at St.Mary Medical Center.  Don't want to race? Volunteers are an integral part of the LB/CARE Triathlon! We're looking for individuals, clubs, and associations to help be part of our Race Crew. All volunteers will recieve free Race Crew t-shirt and breakfast. For race information, volunteer & race registration go to www.thelongbeachtriathlon.com.

Roads are closed by 6:00 am and volunteers are needed from 5:00 am to 11:00 am on race day, Sunday, September 18, 2011. The volunteer sign-up form is available online here.   Volunteer Duties:    Water Stations Mix Gatorade and water, pour into cups, and hand out to athletes. Course Marshall Guide traffic on designated route; make sure athletes stay on course. Timing Working in teams of 3, call out times and bib numbers, record time. Clean Up Assist other volunteers in clean up and take down of bicycle racks. Transition Area Assist athletes, provide security along route, body marking and crowd control around transition areas.   For more information contact Karen Kachigan by email, call (714) 296-2389, or sign up on line.

 

CARE to Dine 2011: Thursday, August 18

The idea behind the one-day event is simple, but effective: dine out, fight AIDS. On Thursday, August 18th, forty restaurants in and around Long Beach will donate twenty percent of the day's proceeds to the CARE Program, helping to fund munch needed services in the Long Beach community. This year's CARE to Dine event marks a special anniversary, the 25th year the CARE Program has been providing comprehensive HIV services. So pick a restaurant, call your friends, have a great evening out, and show you care!

For more information on participating restaurants, visit the CARE to Dine page:

http://careprogram.org/events/dine

To find a participating restaurant close to home, visit our Google interactive map.

If you're a member of Facebook, there a many community groups hosting at particing restaurants.

CARE to Dine page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177859658932465

Alegria: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237176466321522

Sababa: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178729215532887

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=259823184030034

La Traviata: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=219560681424544

LB Grunions: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=138686686216495

LB D-Listers: http://www.facebook.com/dlisters

The Center and Suja Lowenthal at Lola's: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=218431144867244

Robert Garcia at L'Opera: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222246077819951

On Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/events/long-beach-fourth-annual-care-to-dine

After eating, join us and others at The Silver Fox to celebrate a successful fundraiser and meet the C.A.R.E. to DINE team!

 

The Silver Fox – Bar/Nightclub
After-Dining Party for Friends & Volunteers 
Donate your change / Drink specials
411 Redondo Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90814 
562-439-6343 
Hours during event: 4:00PM – 2:00AM

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS 2011

Alegria Cocina Latina

115 Pine Avenue 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-436-3388 
Hours on event day: 11:30AM – 10PM

Ambrosia Café
1923 E. Broadway Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-432-1098 
Hours on event day: 10:00AM – 10:00PM

AVIA Kitchen at the AVIA Hotel
285 Bay Street 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-436-1047
Hours on event day: 5:00PM – 10:00PM

Brew Haus Coffee and Tea
250 W. Ocean Boulevard, B-2
Long Beach, CA 90802
562-495-5050
Hours on event day: 6:00AM – 8:00PM

 

Buono's Authentic Pizzeria
250-A W. Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90802
562-432-2211 
Hours on event day: 10:00AM – 11:00PM

 

Café Piccolo 
3222 E. Broadway Avenue 
Long Beach, CA 90803 
562-438-1316 
Hours on event day: 11:00AM – 2:00PM & 5:00PM – 10:00PM

 

California Pizza Kitchen
6417 E. Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, CA 90803 
562-596-2775
Hours on event day:  11:00AM – 9:30PM
* To dine at this restaurant you must present the attached coupon.
Click here to Open & Print Coupon

diPiazza Restaurant and Lounge
5205 E. Pacific Coast Highway 
Long Beach, CA 90803
562-498-2461 
Hours on event day: 4:00PM – 1:30AM

El Torito Restaurant
6605 E. Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, CA 90803 
562-594-6917
Hours on event day:  11:00AM – 10:00PM
* To dine at this restaurant you must present the attached coupon.
Click here to Open & Print Coupon

 

The Factory Gastropub
4020 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807
562-595-4020
Hours on event day: 4:30PM – 11:00PM

 

The Falcon Bar
1435 E. Broadway Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
562-432-4146
Hours on event day: 7:00AM - 2:00AM

 

Forbidden City Restaurant 
6380-A E. Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, CA 90803
562-961-3500 
Hours on event day: 12:00PM – 10:00PM

 

Francelli's
3404 E. 4th Street
Long Beach, CA 90814
562-434-3441 
Hours on event day: 11:30AM – 10:00PM

Galeana's Grill
70 Atlantic Avenue 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-912-7766
Hours on event day: 8:00AM – 9:00PM

 

Gaucho Grill
200 Pine Avenue 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-590-5000 
Hours on event day: 11:00AM – 1:00AM

 

George’s Greek Café 
135 Pine Avenue
Long Beach, CA  90802 
562-437-1184 
Hours on event day: 10:00AM – Midnight

Hamburger Mary's
740 E. Broadway Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-436-7900 
Hours on event day: 11:000AM – 2:00AM

 

Hooters of Long Beach
71 Aquarium Way 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-983-1010 
Hours on event day: 11:000AM – 1:00AM

Kabob Curry
108 W. 3rd Street
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-495-2262 
Hours on event day: 11:00AM – 9:30PM

 

Kafe Neo
2800 E. 4th Street
Long Beach, CA 90814 
562-987-1210 
Hours on event day: 7:30AM – 10:00PM

 

Kavikas Grill & Bar
95 Aquarium Way 
Long Beach, CA  90802 
Hours on event day: 11:00AM – 3:00PM, 5:00PM – 10:00PM

 

La Strada
4716 E. 2nd Street 
Long Beach, CA 90803 
562-433-8100
Hours on event day: 11:30AM – 10:00PM

 

L’Opera Ristorante
101 Pine Ave 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-491-0066
Hours on event day: 11:30AM – 10:00PM

La Traviata
301 Cedar Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-432-8022
Hours on event day: 5:00PM – 11:00PM

Lola’s Mexican Cuisine
2030 E. Fourth Street
Long Beach, CA 90804
562-343-5506
Hours on event day: 11:30AM – 9:30PM

 

Mabel’s Gourmet Pralines
625 Pine Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
562-491-5354
Hours on event day: 12:00PM – 6:00PM

 

Magic Lamp Grill
5020 E. 2nd Street
Long Beach, CA 90803 
562-987-3080
Hours on event day: 11:00AM – 10:00PM

 

Michael’s on Naples Ristorante
5620 E. 2nd Street 
Long Beach, CA 90803
562-639-7080
Hours on event day: 5:30PM - 10:00PM

Naples Rib Company
5800 E. 2nd Street 
Long Beach, CA 90803
562-439-7427
Hours on event day: 4:00PM - 9:00PM

Nino'sRistorante Italiano
3853 Atlantic Avenue 
Long Beach, CA 90807
562-427-1003
Hours on event day: 11:00AM - 10:00PM

 

The Original Park Pantry
2104 E. Broadway Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90803
562-434-0451
Hours on event day: 6:00AM – 10:00PM

 

Paradise Piano Bar
1800 E. Broadway Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-590-8773
Hours on event day: 3:00PM – Midnight

 

The Pizza Place & Garden Café
1431 E. Broadway Avenue 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-432-6000
Hours on event day: 11:00AM – 11:00PM

 

Polly’s Pies: Two Locations
Long Beach—Atlantic
3490 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807 
562-595-5651

Long Beach—Los Coyotes
4680 Los Coyotes Diagonal
Long Beach, CA 90815
562-597-6076

Hours on event day: 7:00AM – 9:30PM 
* To dine at this restaurant you must present the attached coupon.
Click here to Open & Print Coupon

 

The Raven’s Nest
Authentic Cuban Cuisine
2941 E. Broadway Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90803 
562-439-3672
Hours on event day: 5:30PM – 9:00PM

 

Sababa Restaurant and Lounge
6527 E. Pacific Coast Highway 
Long Beach, CA 90803
562-252-3572
Hours on event day: 5:00PM – Midnight

Super Mex

 732 E. First Street
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-436-0707
Hours on event day:  11:00AM – 9:00PM
* To dine at this restaurant you must present the attached coupon.
Click here to Open & Print Coupon

 

Two Umbrellas Café
1538 E. Broadway Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-495-2323
Hours on event day: 8:00AM – 2:00PM

 

Utopia Restaurant
445 E. First Street
Long Beach, CA 90802 
562-432-6888
Hours on event day: 12:00PM – 9:00PM

 

Black Gay Men and HIV in Long Beach

Last week I blogged about the CDC's report on the stable number of new infections; buried in the report's subtitle was the growing numbers of new HIV cases among Black gay men. Frank Oldham, preseident of the NAPWA (National Association of People with AIDS) has sent out an open letter, which is worth quoting at length here.

NAPWA and I personally salute the CDC for reporting Wednesday what we all already guessed: the number of new HIV infections is level for the country as a whole but is steadily rising in young gay Black men. Tom Frieden spoke for all of us when he said, "We're very concerned about this trend." As an openly gay Black man who has lived with HIV for twenty-two years and seen friends and partners die, I wholeheartedly agree: we have to change this.

Studies show that young gay Black men are at least as likely to use condoms as their non-Black peers, so we cannot blame the rapid spread of HIV among them on riskier behavior. On the contrary: it is driven by the high number of young gay Black men already infected and the high number of them who do not know they are infected. The special impact of HIV on these young people is caused by structural issues in American society that mainstream politicians and press don't like to talk about - especially in this Tea Party-driven political climate.

Structural issues are always hard to talk about. Poverty and prejudice are harder than any. But let's face facts: HIV's disproportionate impact on African-Americans and other Americans of color is the price this country pays for letting color mean poverty, and poverty mean substandard healthcare and health literacy. And HIV's disproportionate impact on young gay men has everything to do with stigma and homophobia, which discourage young men from learning their status and seeking treatment. Let those two problems come together and you have the perfect storm.

We need to address unequal economic and educational opportunity, which keep poor people poor, but that will be a generation's work. In the mean time, all lower-income Americans, White and Black, straight and gay, need fairer access to healthcare and support services. Achieving that, in this political climate,  means driving home relentlessly the objective truth that three-quarters of HIV-related healthcare costs are borne in the public sector, and it costs the public less to test aggressively and treat early than to do nothing and let more people get sick. Our best defense in the coming deficit reduction negotiations is a good offense: it costs more to do less, and we can prove it.

Good figures on local HIV statistics are hard to come by. In Long Beach about 13% of the population is African American, yet they make up one quarter of new HIV cases. As Frank Oldham points out, drivers of the epidemic are not riskier behaviors, but riskier partners: if you're having sex with a segment of the population that is one quarter positive, the chances of being exposed are much higher. Compounding the problem is the number of people who have HIV but don't know it. Here in Long Beach, it's estimated to be 1500 people who are positive and have yet to find out. Because their HIV is not treated, levels of the virus are higher, making it easier for them to infect someone else. 

As Oldham states, it costs less to test agressively and treat early than to do nothing and let people get sick. Here at the CARE Program we offer free confidential HIV testing with results in 20 minutes. Call 562-624-4900 to scedule a test. 

An Ordinary Thing

In today's New York Times, the paper report on the CDC's report that the number of new HIV infections are remaining stable; they also report an alarming increase in the number of new infections among young black gay men. For the past ten years, data has shown that the number of new infections have remained relatively stable. There's an attempt to spin the data into something more optimistic, pointing out that the number of new infections were close to 150,000 a year at their peak. 

Perhaps the lack of explicit safer sex messages and education that targets the highest risk groups can be seen as at least a partial contributor to the government's inability to gain an upper hand with the pandemic. And in a future with even more restricted funding, we can expect education and prevention messages to continue to decline. 

Another contributor may be complacency. As the NYT reports:

Philip Alcabes, a public health epidemiologist at Hunter College in Manhattan, noted that 50,000 is close to the number of Americans who die in road accidents each year — almost 40,000 — “and in some ways, we consider dying on the road an ordinary thing.” (my emphasis)

“So it’s not clear that prevention is a failure,” he argued. “The average adult’s chances of encountering H.I.V. infection — 0.02 percent a year — are rather low. It’s not reasonable to expect that a sexually transmitted virus will disappear in America, or anywhere else...”

Unlike driving, which is a fairly ubiquitous activity, HIV is concentrated in risk groups. Here in Long Beach--like many other urban centers--the HIV prevalence can be as high as 20 to 25 percent of gay and bisexual men, a far cry from 0.02 percent. 

Some Pictures from CARE to Dine's Kickoff Party

This Sunday, the Long Beach Museum of Art served as the venue to launch the 4th Annual CARE to Dine fundraiser, taking place on Thursday, August 18 at over 35 Long Beach Area Restaurants. CARE Program staff, volunteers, and community supporters came together to raise close to four thousand dollars for direct client services at the only comprehensive HIV service agency in Long Beach and the South Bay. Local community organizations agreed to host dinners at participating restaurants on the 18th, ensuring a full house at participating restaurants. 

The idea behind the CARE to Dine event is simple and effective. Local restaurants agree to donate 20% of their profits to direct client services on the 18th, diners have a great night out, and restaurants are filled with many new, first-time customers. 

In addition to live music, ocean views, and drinks and appetizers, guests got to tour the museum for free. In commemoration of providing what has been called the "Gold Standard" in HIV care, the county, state assembly, and city of Long Beach offered proclamations honoring the CARE Program's twenty five years of service to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. 

 






 

AIDS Drugs Assistance Program Waiting List Tops 8,000

Thirteen states now have waiting lists for HIV medications, with the total number of people who need medications, can't afford them, don't have private insurance, and can't access the medications public and community agencies that provide care to those who have no other options. This list comes from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and is current as of May 2011. In addition, other states have begun cost containment strategies by eliminating medications from their drug formulary, lowering the income level for those eligible, creating expenditure caps, and stopping reimbursement for lab work.

Ironically, this comes at a time when the study, HTPN052 was stopped early because of overwhelming evidence showing that starting HIV-positive persons on medication early greatly reduces the rate of transmission. So the consequence of fewer positive people receiving treatment will be more cases of HIV that will need treatment, and longer waiting lists. 

District Pride Tonight

Join us at Bliss 525 for District Pride, a kick-off event for Long Beach Pride and fundraiser for the CARE Program, The Center Long Beach and East Village Arts. The event runs from 6 to 10pm, and tickets are $25.