Meet Yaa Simpson: Another New Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate!

“Stigma is only dispelled by shining a brighter light on it! We have to speak life and light with our words and actions. There is enough doom and gloom to impact everyone - and that is where stigma resides. But letting people know they have options, biomedical techniques for prevention, medications, possible vaccines, gathering more evidence, integrating creative research designs, etc. are all steps in the right direction. We must expect the impossible and believe in miracles!”

Yaa Simpson is an IRMA advocate from Chicago, Illinois. She is an epidemiologist for the Chicago Department of Health and a Community Epidemiologist for TACTS (The Association of Clinical Trial Services). She loves to contribute to ideas and discussion about better research in the community, specifically HIV/STI prevention trials. She is also working towards her doctoral degree and hopes to one day conduct HIV prevention trails in Chicago.

Yaa first learned of IRMA when she was invited to a presentation on microbicides several years ago. Here she was introduced to Jim Pickett and his work with IRMA. She remembers Jim saying, “We all have opinions, like we all have booties!” She now is an active member on the listserv and enjoys IRMA’s blog and educational teleconferences.

She believes rectal microbicides are an important tool to add to the prevention technology toolbox, and acknowledges that we must develop technologies to prevent HIV spreading through any avenue, including rectally.

Her advice for IRMA is to continue to be involved with people who want to see change! “Talk to those who don’t want to hear about it and strategize with those who are looking for answers. Be diligent and be patient. And if you ever feel discouraged or overwhelmed by the stigma associated with standing up for rectal microbicides, remember what Mark Twain once said: 'Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.'”

Read more bios from Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocates.



[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

"Magic" Pills and Potions - Hocus Pocus or Plus Plus?

IRMA chair Jim Pickett was part of a forum on PrEP in Seattle a few months ago called "The Magic Pill?" hosted by the wonderful Gay City Health Project. Here is his talk - live action AND slides - in two glorious parts!

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

PODCAST: The Battle Over HIV Prevention - IRMA's Jim Pickett jumps in

Last time there was a lot of fuss over a little blue pill, Bob Dole was doing Viagra ads on TV.


via Feast of Fun

Check out the podcast now.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation launched a national ad campaign to discredit PrEP or Pre Exposure Prophylaxis, a new HIV prevention technique that involves taking Truvada (an existing HIV medication) on a daily basis.

The LA based health organization blasted this approach, saying there is no magic pill, and that it’s just a misguided attempt to put HIV negative men on unnecessary meds to enrich the fat cats in the pharmaceutical industry to the tune of $10,000 a year per patient.

Why is the leadership of the nation’s largest AIDS organization arguing against a treatment that could potentially save millions of gay men from becoming HIV positive?

Today, gay men’s health advocate, Jim Pickett, from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (and chair of IRMA) joins us to explain the and chair of IRMAcontroversy surrounding this new treatment, and the possible reasons it may be misunderstood.

Listen to the podcast.

And that smart HIV-positive shirt Jim is wearing? Part of a cool anti-stigma campaign out of the Illinois Alliance for Sound AIDS Policy. Check it out.


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

It's not if, it's when: IRMA's Jim Pickett on Rectal Microbicides in Africa

Writing for  the September - December 2010 issue of Echoes, a publication of the Nigerian HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, IRMA chair Jim Pickett discusses the need for rectal microbicides in Africa.

Excerpt:

Until recently, rectal microbicides have simply not been part of the HIV prevention agenda in Africa, due in part to the denial of anal sex among heterosexuals and pervasive homophobia and criminalization that has denied and vilified the existence of gay men/MSM.

IRMA diligently addresses these issues, leading efforts to put rectal microbicides on the African map. These efforts are now bearing fruit - due in no small part to the significant engagement of hundreds of African advocates across the continent and extraordinary leadership by IRMA Nigeria with Kadiri Audu, IRMA Community Vice Chair, at the helm.

Read the whole thing.

While you are there, be sure to also check out the report on a rectal microbicide training for MSMs in Abuja!

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]