Archive for the ‘HIV’ Category
Posted by James
CUSH has provided HIV (Drug Retrovir еreating HIV infection when used along with other medicines) prevention to over 32,000 people; training for over 2,850 faith leaders (Figure 1); risk assessments for over 1,000 people; counseling and testing for over 825 participants;, and technical assistance for 48 churches, including the development of a training manual; and signed approximately 150 Memoranda of Understanding with collaborating churches. There has also been an increase in support from the private sector, including fraternities, sororities (including local chapters of Delta Sigma Theta, Gamma Sigma Ro and Alpha Kappa Alpha) and volunteer agencies. The impact of CUSH has grown steadily since its inception. From the first meeting involving five faith leaders to the current consortium, which meets monthly and has over 40 committed members, CUSH has provided early intervention services, HIV (Medication Viramune treating HIV infection) prevention training, HIV counseling and testing, and the creation of HIV ministries that assist in providing referrals for care and treatment and providing support to over 32,000 people. With limited funding, the Broward County Health Department and our faith-based partners are able to reach a community at high risk for HIV infection.
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Posted by James
In 1999, the Broward County Health Department HIV/AIDS Program Office, and local pastors and faith leaders of different denominations met to discuss the HIV situation in Broward County. In several meetings, partners reviewed surveillance data; studied modes of HIV (Tablets Viramune treating HIV infection) transmission; and discussed how to approach sensitive issues, such as abstinence, condom use and distribution, premarital and extramarital sex, homosexuality and substance use/abuse. Following this process, we developed the CUSH project. The name “CUSH” has its roots in African history and Christianity. Cush was the name of an ancient East African kingdom found in the Nile River Valley south of modern-day Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the oldest continuous Christian nation in the world, having adopted Christianity in the 4th Century A.D.
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Posted by James
INTRODUCTION
In Florida, an estimated one in every 46 blacks is infected with HIV (Generic Retrovir еreating HIV infection when used along with other medicines) Churches and other faith-based organizations are an essential part of the black neighborhood. They are often located in areas with large concentrations of people hardest hit by HIV (Generic Zerit еreating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines) and can play an important role in guiding the minority community. Faith-based organizations reach people in communities, understand felt needs and can foster community resources and involvement in ways public health often cannot. Public health can provide the scientific background, infrastructure and funding essential to the success of prevention efforts. Unfortunately, collaborations between faith-based organizations and public health have been underutilized in HIV prevention. We report the development of Churches United to Stop HIV (CUSH), a collaborative project designed to provide HIV/AIDS education and training to faith-based organizations in Broward County, FL.