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World AIDS Day Event Focuses on the Family
"Each year on World AIDS Day, I am reminded of the meaning of this day, a day of celebration and remembrance. We celebrate advances in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS. We also remember those we’ve lost over the years,” shared Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, director of the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP), and professor of clinical Medicine and Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health, on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2006.
The School’s World AIDS Day event was a celebration and a time of remembrance. Speakers outlined the current state-of-the-art in treatment and highlighted the promise held within comprehensive and continuous care for those with HIV/AIDS and their families. The event also honored Allan Rosenfield, MD, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health, for his leadership and influence in the field of HIV/AIDS.
Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, and Peter McDermott
Opening the program, Alan Berkman, MD, associate clinical professor of Epidemiology and Sociomedical Sciences, outlined the global state of HIV/AIDS infections — 40 million are living with AIDS, at least six million people need treatment right now, and less than 25% of them receive it. Said Dr. Berkman, “The lack of treatment is a horror that takes the lives of individuals, deeply affecting families and countries.”
Through extensive research and much labor, the School has had a significant impact in the field, working to increase the quantity and quality of care and treatment. When welcoming speakers and audience members, Dr. Rosenfield reminded the attendees that, “the focus should be on families — mothers, fathers, and children, with special concern for the young women who are at risk of sexual violence”
Family focused programs have been a hallmark of Dr. Rosenfield’s contributions to the field. During the World AIDS Day event, Dr. El-Sadr and Peter McDermott, chief of the HIV/AIDS Program Division at UNICEF, presented Dr. Rosenfield with an award from ICAP, UNICEF, and the students of the Mailman School of Public Health and the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons for his dedication to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.
Following the presentation, speakers shared their remarks about the role of family-focused care. Students Akilah Banister and Jake Doll explained their intent to offer comprehensive medical care and treatment to at-risk populations and those affected by HIV/AIDS; Mr. McDermott explained UNICEF’s “Four P’s” strategy to Prevent mother-to-child transmission, Provide pediatric treatment, Prevent infection among young people, and Protect and support children affected by AIDS; Dr. El-Sadr spoke of the need to improve the quality of care through comprehensive treatment, better facilities, and retaining experienced caregivers; Elaine Abrams, MD, director of the MTCT-Plus Initiative at the Mailman School of Public Health, and professor of clinical Epidemiology, outlined the importance of mothers; Claude Mellins, PhD, associate professor of clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, and an investigator at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, explained the need for psychological support for high-risk populations and those living with HIV/AIDS; and Mary Fisher, special representative to UNAIDS, shared her stories about the inspiration of unconventional families and the enormous support that they have traditionally offered to those living with HIV/AIDS.
Throughout the event, speakers focused on comprehensive and continuous care as a means to better fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Dr. Berkman thanked the audience for attending and reminded them that there is hope for an AIDS-free generation, but there is still much work to be done to improve the quality and accessibility of care.
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