What We’re Reading: Celebrities Taking A Stand, Elton John and Ryan White, and Stories from Our Ambassadors

Posted by Jane Coaston
Washington, D.C.
October 19, 2012

This week, we’re reading about celebrities supporting global health efforts, learning about Elton John’s friendship with the late Ryan White, and finding out more about a Foundation Ambassador’s fight against pediatric HIV/AIDS.

EGPAF – “Celebrities Raise Their Voices in UNAIDS Believe it. Do it. Video” The Join United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) recently released a video featuring celebrities supporting efforts to eliminate pediatric HIV/AIDS by 2015, including Annie Lennox and Whoopi Goldberg. Be sure and check out the link to read more about how EGPAF is helping in the fight against HIV.

Huffington Post – “Elton John Remembers Ryan White At His AIDS Gala” This week, Elton John honored the memory of his friend Ryan White at the annual benefit for his AIDS foundation. White, who became a symbol of children living with HIV after being expelled from his middle school for his positive status, died of AIDS-related complications in 1990, and John was by his side. In 1992, John began the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which supports prevention efforts and care and treatment services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

ONE.org – “More than words on a page” and KatieCouric.com – “My Story: Pregnant and HIV Positive” We were thrilled to see EGPAF mentioned in a number of articles from all over the web this week. Over at ONE, Erin Hohlfelder took a trip to Zambia and Lesotho, where EGPAF provides PMTCT services to millions of women and their babies. And at Katie Couric’s website, Foundation Ambassador Fortunata Kasege shared her story of giving birth to a happy, healthy, HIV-negative baby through PMTCT services.

Metro – “Could Truvada pill turn out to be miracle drug for HIV prevention? “ Truvada is the first drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in preventing HIV infections, a treatment strategy known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). In Britain, it is only approved for treatment purposes, not for prevention. This article explains the challenges and potential pitfalls of an HIV prevention pill.