HIV-AIDS

Best-selling author and pastor Rick Warren, who along with his wife, Kay, have for several years championed an initiative to combat HIV/AIDS globally, are outraged that a Christian conservative radio host is promoting a college professor’s theory that HIV is a harmless virus.

Earlier this month, Bryan Fischer, who is also the director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association, featured the author of Inventing the AIDS Virus, Peter Duesberg, on his "Focal Point" radio show. Fischer told The Christian Post that he agrees with Duesberg that HIV is not the cause of AIDS and that he came to this decision after reading the University of California, Berkley professor’s book in 1996.

He said he also agrees with Duesberg that AIDS is the result of lifestyle choices, such as drug use and promiscuity, which weaken the immune system. Duesberg says that homosexual men are at special risk since they use drugs and engage in casual sex more so than other groups. more >>

Christian conservative radio host Bryan Fischer recently told his listeners that HIV is man-made and experts attacked his comments as irresponsible.

Fischer, who is Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association, recently featured author of "Inventing the AIDS Virus,” Peter Duesberg, on his "Focal Point" radio show.

"The reason HIV was invented as the cause of AIDS is it was a way to get research money," Fischer said. more >>

I remember when I first heard of AIDS in church. It may have been called GRID (Gay Related Immune Disorder) at the time, but I know for certain the speaker that day called it "the gay plague." The speaker was half right, but also completely wrong.

He was right that it is a plague-- 34 million people worldwide are infected with HIV and 2.7 million more are infected each year (See World Health Organization data here). Yet, he used his sermon that day to claim so many crazy facts about homosexuality and this disease. Many Christians, once again, reacted poorly at first. He was wrong in that he never mentioned caring for the hurting and ministering to the sick. That's something that Christians should always care about-- regardless of the stigma or source of a disease. And, at first, many churches did not.

Yet, that is not the end of the story. Christians did get involved and still are. Ministries such as Samaritan's Purse, Every Orphan's Hope, He Intends Victory, and World Vision are involved and serving. Lately, we hear less about AIDS, but days like this help to remind us how prevalent it is-- here and around the world. more >>

As the world is assessing the global fight with HIV/AIDS today, global AIDS Day, experts say that tough financial times are a serious obstacle to efficient help for those struggling with the deadly virus.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a global organization fighting three of the world's most devastating diseases. It is reportedly the single largest donor body for HIV funding that provides more than 70 percent of funds for life-saving antiretroviral drugs in developing nations. The group provides HIV testing and counseling sessions to an estimated 190 million people.

But the organization admits that the global meltdown poses some serious risks to how much the fund can help. more >>

President Obama is announcing on Thursday the nation’s commitment to fighting AIDS worldwide with hopes of getting medication and making treatment accessible to more people. Former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are joining Obama at a World AIDS day event via satellite to approve of the administration’s plans to increase AIDS spending in the U.S. by an additional $50 million.

A program known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief helps support operations in 15 countries that focus on prevention and treatment in the world’s hardest hit regions, the majority being in Africa. Former President Bush started the program in 2003, setting aside $15 billion and in 2008 Congress increased that amount to $48 billion.

However, the Obama administration was quick to point out that the additional $50 million would not be added to the program’s bottom line, instead saying they hope to redirect the additional funds through savings and cost-cutting measures. more >>

U.S. President Barack Obama will speak alongside former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and anti-AIDS activists in a World AIDS Day panel on Thursday.

Obama will join the event’s hosts at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., to participate in the discussion. Clinton and Bush will appear via satellite. Bush is in Tanzania with President Jakaya Kikwete.

Other guests include Bono, whose ONE and (RED) campaigns have sought to raise awareness of global AIDS and poverty issues. Artist Alicia Keys will also participate on the panel. The singer is the co-founder and global ambassador of Keep A Child Alive – a non-proft organization that helps families in Africa with HIV and AIDS by providing medicine and supplies. more >>