Jamie Robertson's Blog
Posted by Jamie Robertson
Yesterday, World AIDS Day, condoms were being handed out around the world to help prevent HIV. A few years from now, this same scene might occur with microbicides.
Microbicides will never replace condoms, but they will allow for extra protection. Women in developing countries often are not able to ask their partners to use condoms. With microbicides, women could apply an invisible layer of protection prior to sexual activity, without permission from their partner.
The addition of an effective microbicide could help avoid over a million new cases of HIV each year. Though development of such an agent is expensive and time consuming, it is far less expensive than the medical costs that would be incurred to treat those millions of people.
Learn more about microbicides.
Posted by Jamie Robertson
Worlds AIDS Day (Monday, December 1, 2008) is quickly approaching. I am thinking about AIDS ribbons because I am getting set to hand out a bunch of them for World AIDS Day, which of course means cutting ribbon, folding the pieces, and attaching safety pins. In between all this work, I have to remind myself why I am doing all this work.
The AIDS ribbon has now been around for 17 years, and, unfortunately, AIDS has been around longer. The Ribbon Project set out to create a symbol that would help raise awareness for AIDS and commemorate those who were living with HIV. Since its inception, the ribbon has become an international symbol that can be found on bracelets, t-shirts, bags, and just about anything else. Some people believe that because of the seeming commercialization of the red ribbon, it has lost much of its meaning. I would argue that no matter how many ribbons are out there, it is not enough. Too little thought goes into remember those who are living with this disease and those who have died from it.
This World AIDS Day, when you are wearing your ribbon, remind yourself that it is not simply a fashion statement, but a symbol of all that has already happened and all that has yet to come.
Posted by Jamie Robertson
Though it is not quite Thanksgiving, I have already started thinking about holiday gifts. The one person I can never shop for is my grandfather. If he wants something, he simply goes out and buys it for himself. In fact, he has been known to become angry at my family for buying him anything that he deems too expensive or useless.
Over the past few years, I have taken to buying him gifts that go under someone else's tree. Organizations like Changing the Present offer the opportunity to buy a gift that benefits many people around the world, instead of buying something for someone who doesn't need anything. Changing the Present allows you to choose gifts by category, and includes many gifts that help fight HIV/AIDS. So this year, instead of buying Grandpa yet another tie he will only wear once, I am buying something for someone who actually needs something.
Learn more about Changing the Present here.
Posted by Jamie Robertson
World AIDS Day is just a little more than a month away. While that may seem like a long time, many organizations and groups are already in the process of developing activities for that day.
I have been participating in World AIDS Day activities for five years now, and really look forward to this day. It is a time to remember the vast number of people who are living with HIV, mostly in the developing world. Many groups organize a vigil to remember those who have passed away from AIDS.
This year, I would like to challenge everyone to find some way to participate in World AIDS Day. Even a simple act, like wearing a red ribbon, is a great way to help draw attention to this important issue.
To learn more about the history of World AIDS Day and this years theme, please see my article History of World AIDS Day.
Posted by Jamie Robertson
Rapid HIV testing has had a huge impact on HIV testing services around the world. When HIV tests have to be sent to labs, patients have to spend weeks wondering about their testing results. Understandably, this causes a lot of anxiety for patients. In developing countries, many patients live miles away from the closest testing facility and do not have reliable transportation. Many never return to collect their results from the clinic.
With rapid testing, providers can counsel patients, perform the test, and provide the results in the same session. This not only cuts back on patient anxiety, but allows the provider to ensure that the patient is provided with proper information from start to finish. Patients are only required to make one trip to the clinic to receive the test and results and only need to return if follow-up is required.
To learn more about rapid HIV testing please see Rapid Screening Tests for HIV.
Posted by Jamie Robertson
Though it has been more than 20 years since the discovery of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the Nobel Prize committee recently awarded François Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier, co-discoverers of the virus, the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
The work that these two scientist did in the 1980s laid the foundation for all the research and treatment available today. Both of these scientists remain active in the HIV field, doing research, heading organizations, and assisting in clinical trials.
Were scientist unable to discover this virus, there would be no hope for a vaccine, no anti-retroviral treatments, and no tests for HIV. Blood received during a transfusion could not be trusted and those with HIV would not know until they had become deathly ill. Certainly, this discovery deserves that honor that has been bestowed upon on it.
For more information about the discovery, please read Noble Prize Awarded to Discoverers of HIV.
Posted by Jamie Robertson
HIV/AIDS has now been around for more than 20 years, yet there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the origin of the disease. Recent scientific studies have ample evidence to show that the disease jumped from chimpanzees in Africa to humans. Despite this evidence, there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the issues. Books and movies have been released claiming to have evidence showing a pathway that HIV infects humans.
It is fascinating to read the history of the different theories that have arisen. Some are pure speculation, while others have ample evidence to support them.
To learn more about some of the most prominent theories please see Theories on the Origin of HIV.
For more information on HIV/AIDS in southern Africa see:
Posted by Jamie Robertson
Zambia is working hard to incorporate HIV and sex education into their public school curriculum. As on of the hardest hit countries in the HIV epidemic, Zambia has seen the need to educate their children on this topic as early as they can. Children are eager to learn, ask questions, and discover new answers. While children are the future of any country, over half of Zambia's population is under 18. The good news is that most of these children are not HIV positive.
This success is due, in part, to the education and social marketing campaigns that Zambia has worked very hard on.There are numerous ads around the country encourage people to know their status and to protect themselves. It is also a testament to the success of the mother-to-child transmission prevention work being done, both in Zambia and around the world. Continuing to educate these children is the only way to ensure they make it to adulthood.
For more information on HIV/AIDS in Zambia read Overview of HIV/AIDS in Zambia.
Posted by Jamie Robertson
I am always surprised by the progress HIV treatment research has made over the years. Recently, scientists discovered that a medication used to treat herpes is also effective at treating HIV in individuals who have both infections. At the same time that this discovery has been made, another team of researchers has discovered that treatment for TB may interfer with certain HIV treatments. All this research is a step toward finding better treatments, and hopefully a cure, for HIV/AIDS.
In the past year, attention has focused on the failure of most of the HIV vaccine trials, leaving people with feelings of hopelessness. I hear too many people focusing on what has not been accomplished, and not enough people talking about the accomplishments that have been made. While a vaccine may be years away, there is a lot of great and innovative research that is helping people today.
For more information about herpes and HIV please see Herpes Treatment Helps Suppress HIV.
For more information about TB and HIV please see TB Treatment Makes HIV Treatment Less Effective.
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