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Dr. Benjamin's AIDS Experience



With President Obama's nomination of Alabama family physician Regina Benjamin as U.S. Surgeon General comes a new ally in the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS, says AIDS Project Los Angeles's director of government affairs.

During her speech accepting the nomination, Benjamin acknowledged her familiarity with HIV complications and issues, as her brother died at the age of 44 of an HIV-related illness. Having such a personal experience, especially a loss, due to HIV/AIDS could have a strong impact on her policy and public health campaigns, APLA's Phil Curtis told Advocate.com on Tuesday.

Curtis said that Benjamin has the ability to reach out to communities that have been largely underserved by efforts to reduce the rate of infection.

"We all know that the numbers have increased, especially in more marginalized communities, and communities of color," he said. "The infection rates in young African-American gay men are out of the ballpark -- it's stratospheric, and tragic. So prevention messages are something that Dr. Benjamin will have the opportunity to spread throughout the country."

He added that Benjamin, who ran her own clinic in rural Alabama, will also be able to contribute to Congress's current debate on health care policy, including strategies for early HIV prevention, and accessibility to prescription drugs.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Donnie
    Date posted: 7/15/2009 1:20:00 PM
    Hometown: LA

    Comment:

    since I hated Bush- guess I'm anti white...

  • Name: Donnie
    Date posted: 7/15/2009 12:45:00 PM
    Hometown: LA

    Comment:

    I'm dating a black guy...yes- I'm white...hated Bush- bite me!

  • Name: patriot
    Date posted: 7/15/2009 10:39:00 AM
    Hometown: New York, NY

    Comment:

    Hey Obama-haters, insert your bitter racist comment here _________________.

  • Name: stdslove
    Date posted: 7/15/2009 2:30:00 AM
    Hometown: positivefish.com

    Comment:

    We need SEX-ED. I just found out the largest HIV dating&support site Positivefish. com. It has more than 500,000 members! OMG! Why so many guys and girls on the site are very sexy? Why so many people infect HIV?

  • Name: Jeff Berry
    Date posted: 7/14/2009 11:58:00 PM
    Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

    Comment:

    Hi Donnie, thanks for your comment but IMHO I don't think this nomination or appointment should be based on sexual orientation, HIV status, skin color, gender, or anything other than the individual's experience and qualifications. Dr. Benjamin is a highly regarded physician and leader in the community who has made a real difference in thousands of people's lives, and can hopefully help lead this administration's health care policy into the 21st century, where HIV continues to be a major threat to both gays and straight, men and women, and every color of the rainbow. Jeff Berry Editor, Positively Aware Magazine Chicago, Illinois

  • Name: hansel
    Date posted: 7/14/2009 11:47:00 PM
    Hometown: seattle

    Comment:

    jesus you live to complain, don't you? i mean, you really do go out of your way!

  • Name: Donnie
    Date posted: 7/14/2009 9:12:00 PM
    Hometown: LA

    Comment:

    another chance to appoint a gay to a top position- another failure



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