Aid for AIDS

May 19 2012

May 18, 12

THE AID FOR AIDS FAMILY JOINS IN CELEBRATING OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

While it is ordinarily considered “bad form” to toot your own horn, we MUST.
Our very own Founding Director, Jesus Aguais, will be receiving the prestigious Dennis de Leon Voz de Compromiso (Voice of Commitment) Award from the Latino Commission on AIDS on May 18th at its annual fundraising gala, Cielo Latino.
The award honors the selflessness and commitment of persons living with HIV/AIDS who, through example, have dedicated themselves to enlighten the public about it.
We couldn’t be more proud nor is there a person more deserving.  From its humble beginnings as a simple, yet life-saving, medication Recycling Program to its multi-faceted hemispheric program delivery today, Jesus has masterfully guided this ship since it set sail in 1996.

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May 16, 12

Ready to Walk??

Click on the map the see it larger.

As Sunday May 20th fast approaches, we are still moving full steam ahead with fundraising for AIDS WALK 2012 and we hope you are getting a great response from your friends and family who are supporting you for the Walk.  No less important, however, is to have the details as to where and when we’ll meet.  So pay special attention to this info:

Our team will gather in Central Park at 9AM to start the Walk at 10 AM sharp.  All teams will be arranged alphabetically so walk down to the “A” teams area.  To see the exact location please refer to the map above.
To enter the park, please head to 59th and 5th Avenue (entrance across from the Apple store) and follow the crowd.  If you get lost on the day of the event and you can’t find our table, please don’t freak! Text 718-664-3098 for directions. (To see Route Map or the Venue Maps click here.

Last but not least, breakfast will be provided for all of you who won’t have a chance to grab a bite before the Walk.
Thank you all and see you this Sunday!!

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May 11, 12

Sharing Life in Honduras

“Juan has a long history of opportunistic infections so the severe recurrence of immunodeficiency disorders in his case is to be expected.  However, it is noteworthy that when Juan has been very sick, his response to treatment has been favorable. This must be due, at least in part, to his zest for life and we believe we must help to him to survive.”
AID FOR AIDS International (AFAI) received this note from Juan’s doctor, a pediatric infectologist in Honduras, as part of an application for entrance into our Access Treatment Program. The AFAI team immediately considered Juan’s case by reviewing his medical history (viral load tests, CD4 count and hematology) and some time later he became one of the thousands of beneficiaries of our program, receiving month by month, the antiretroviral therapy to help him continue his life.

Born in 1996, Juan was diagnosed with HIV by the age of 3. The virus was acquired Perinatally (before, during, or after birth) because his mother lived with HIV and was not treated properly during pregancy or Juan’s birth. He began his antiretroviral therapy at 6 years old but could only be treated for the subsequent 6 months because his mother did not have sufficient money to defray the cost of medicines and medical tests.

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May 10, 12

AIDS WALK team, we want to show you the goodies!

With barely 10 days left before we meet at Central Park for the AIDS WALK New York 2012, NOW is the time for us to show you the goodies! 
Dasz, a Venezuelan agency of interactive creative design, has lent its talents to support our AIDS WALK campaign creating the graphics that will most beautifully make us stand out of the crowd. As a preview, this is the sneak peek at our t-shirt.
 

As we prepared to launch our AIDS WALK 2012 campaign, Victoria Benatar, a leading member of our Next Generation Committee, approached Dasz Creativos to create the graphics that would adorn our team’s presence at the event. Moved by the great work of AID FOR AIDS, the Dasz team shifted into high gear to develop the designs that will be showcased on May 20th at the 2012 AIDS WALK New York.

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May 08, 12

HIV Testing, A Key Priority In Hiv Prevention At AFAI

Among the many essential and valuable services offered by AFAI in New York, free and confidential HIV testing ranks among our top priorities in the area of HIV prevention. Beginning 3 years ago with the rapid testing program in our offices, AFAI has been able to find a wide range of organizational partners to exponentially expand this service by taking it off site on a regular basis. What’s the secret sauce? The urgency of our team and its call to immediate action: “Now is the Time to Know!”

After getting certified by the New York State Dept. of Health to offer rapid and confidential testing, our office opened its door for anybody who wanted to get tested.  Whether by appointment or walk-in, everybody is welcomed. However, our team understood we needed to go the extra mile and bring HIV testing out to the community.

AID FOR AIDS has, for years, been doing outreach at local Latin American consulates where we provide vital HIV prevention information and we have been actively involved in health fairs, conferences and seminars where HIV information is disseminated.  The certification has not only given us the ability to give out information but also allows us to go above and beyond so that participants can get results immediately upon taking the HIV test.

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