Aid for AIDS

There is Life After an HIV Diagnosis - The Huffington Post

Truly powerful and inspiring! AID FOR AIDS International’s ATAP coordinator, Eduardo Hernandez shares his story in an interview for The Huffington Post’s Healthy Living section on National HIV Testing Day.

Marc Jacobs Proudly Supports AID FOR AIDS International With The Launch Of A New T-shirt Collection

AID FOR AIDS International (AFAI) partner Marc Jacobs International LLC has designed six special t-shirts, which have gone on sale at more than 200 Marc Jacobs retail stores on June 9. All proceeds from the t-shirt sale will go to support AFAI’s activities.
Retail-priced at $35, each t-shirt of this collection features a design inspired by illustrations made by children living with HIV from AFAI’s Children Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean on the front, and a custom Marc Jacobs-designed AID FOR AIDS International logo in back.
“We are extremely grateful to Marc Jacobs and Robert Duffy for this unique and inspired contribution to our cause,” noted AFAI founder and executive director Jesus Aguais. “It’s a wonderful, new way to deliver our message of hope and empowerment to the larger community.” 

A Peruvian Survivor Fights to Bridge the Gap Between Prevention and Treatment

Enrique Chavez, 44, of Lima, Peru, said he’s the living face of HIV.
The South American delegate to the 2011 U.N. High Level Meeting on AIDS said he was not afraid of dying because, after 21 years of living with HIV, he’s still here.
“Maybe God has a plan for me, to show someone can live with HIV, not AIDS,” he said this week. “There’s a difference. … You can live if you take care of yourself.”

Chavez was told he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in 1990, when he was 23. He has been taking medication ever since. With recent advances in medication, Chavez, along with notable HIV patients such as Magic Johnson, are living longer and healthier lives. But Chavez said there were still disparities in treatment, care and support for HIV patients in his country.

Out Of Our Dreams

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Eduardo Guzman – 212 337-8043, ext. 335 ( )

For the five Latino immigrant artists preparing to present their work at AID FOR AIDS International (AFAI) on May 20-22, there is a lot more at stake than another showcase.  There’s the realization of a lifelong dream: to be free to express themselves through their art, without fear of homophobic violence and discrimination.

“In my country, Venezuela, a gay man with HIV doesn’t have the right of free expression,” says Yder Laya, a ceramic artist who describes himself and his HIV+ colleagues as “political refugees.”  “I lost my job in marketing because of who I am. Just the idea of showing my art in public would be unthinkable over there.”
Jose Gonzalez, a Venezuelan painter, concurs fully. “Just to be able to invite my family to come to the show to see who I am as a person and an artist, is an incredible thing. We are all so grateful for this opportunity.” 
In AID FOR AIDS, an organization that assists people living with HIV or AIDS in Latin America and the U.S., the five artists found the emotional support to allow them to find their creative voices and craft their own personal visions. Part of the proceeds from this weekend’s showcase will benefit the activities of AFAI.

“We speak constantly about empowerment, about helping people find the tools and the strength to live lives that are not defined solely by their HIV status,” says AFAI founder and executive director Jesus Aguais. “The story of the rebirth of these five artists represents the living embodiment of that idea. We’re tremendously excited about being involved in this show.”

In addition to Laya and Gonzalez, the artists displaying their work are:  Edmundo Rodriguez, a graphic artist and mask maker;  and painters Arid Orozco and Jose Vasquez. All are Venezuelan natives, except Vasquez, who is from Puerto Rico.

The show will be held at AFAI’s Manhattan headquarters on the 2nd floor of 515 Greenwich St, near the corner of Greenwich and Spring Streets. The opening from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 20, will feature a cocktail reception.

AFAI, founded in 1996, runs the world’s largest HIV/AIDS medication recycling program. The organization collects unused and unexpired medicine in the U.S, and redistributes it free of charge to needy recipients in 35 developing nations. Over the past 15 years, AFAI has distributed more than $70 million worth of free antiretroviral medication to thousands of individuals and health clinics. In addition to recycling, AFAI operates an HIV preventive education program in Latin America and the Caribbean that reaches nearly 600,000 adolescents; a Children’s Program in the region that helps youngsters (3 to 15 years of age) learn to live with HIV; and a case management program serving hundreds of Spanish-speaking immigrants in New York City living with HIV/AIDS.

Miss Universe web page

COPRESIDA y Fundación AID for AIDS firman acuerdo

El Consejo Presidencial del SIDA (COPRESIDA) y la Fundación AID for AIDS (AFA) firmaron un convenio para impulsar estrategias destinadas a mejorar la condiciones de vida de las Personas que Viven con VIH y Sida (PVVIH) con el objetivo de fortalecer la Respuesta Nacional a esa epidemia.

El acuerdo fue suscrito en forma de Memorando de Entendimiento por el doctor Gustavo Rojas Lara, Director del COPRESIDA, el licenciado Jesús Aguais, Director Ejecutivo de AID FOR AIDS Internacional y el arquitecto Rafael Ricart Nouel, Presidente de la Junta Directiva de la Fundación AID for AIDS Dominicana.

POZ Magazine interview

Jesus Aguais, executive director of Aid for AIDS, discusses how his organization is helping people living with HIV/AIDS in Haiti after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake on January 12.

My Hero Gala 2009

December 1, 2009 (New York, NY):  In honor of World AIDS Day and in commemoration of those individuals persevering in the fight against the epidemic worldwide, AID FOR AIDS International hosted its 9th annual My Hero Gala at the Puck Building in New York City.

http://www.patrickmcmullan.com/site/event_detail.aspx?eid=31570&home=1&page=9&pgSize=16&sortdir=DESC
http://guestofaguest.com/galleries/2009/12/aid-for-aids-international-my-hero-gala-2009/105255/

My Hero Gala 2009

Michael Flocker emcees the My Hero Gala, which celebrates the work of Aid for AIDS, an international organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries.

Motorcycle ride for a smile

Last Monday September 28th, members of several motorcycle clubs in Panama united efforts to offer moments of happiness for the small patients of the Children’s Hospital in Panama City.
Out of 400 patients, almost 60 children enjoyed motorcycle rides, while the rest spent the day interacting with clowns, playing with balloons, and participating in other games.

How Much Do You Know About HIV & AIDS workshop video

How Much Do You Know About HIV & AIDS workshop

In this article, an Ecuadorian newspaper writes about AFAI’s How Much Do You Know About HIV & AIDS workshop, which was conducted in Guayaquil with teachers from 8 different schools.  During the event, teachers and counselors received information about HIV transmission and neurolinguistic programming, enabling them to spread the word to both their students and those from other educational institutions.  According to Jaime Valencia, AFAI’s Director of Operations, the main goal of the workshops was to use education and access to information to reduce stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV and AIDS and decrease the incidence of the disease.
The workshop was a result of a partnership between AFAI, Fundacion VIHDA and the Guayaquil Mayor’s Office.

Cocktail welcoming First Lady of Panamá

In this picture Astrid Redmond Schalageter, Cuban designer Narciso Rodriguez and Jackie Guerrido attending to the private reception welcoming Mrs.Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos to the Board.

AFAI at NBC

(April 7, 2009). AFAI’s newest Board Member, First Lady of Panama, Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos and Jesus Aguais disucussing AFAI’s innovative programs with NBC’s “Saturday Today”.