Greetings,

Health Care Reform Legislation Nearer to Reality

By now some people may be suffering from HCRWS (Health Care Reform Weary Syndrome). They are fed up with the bickering and political footballing and increasingly “tune out” at the mere mention of HCR. I’m glad neither you nor I find ourselves similarly afflicted. We are seeing real results from our emails, letters and phone calls! I know you have been tasked with a lot over the last several months. From attending Town Hall meetings to writing letters, you have met the challenge head on. Your work is paying off! The United States Congress now has one unified piece of healthcare legislation moving through the Senate with a Public Option! Of course it is being vilified and threatened with filibusters, nevertheless it is there.

So, with all the work you’ve already been doing, making the choice to keep marching forward seems a no-brainer. Stopping now would only weaken the foundation of support we’ve built thus far and slow the progress we are now witnessing. There is no limit to the amount of letters you can send to your elected officials and no cap on the phone calls you can make. Our democracy demands constant vigilance and now is no time to tucker out. Every time you get a chance to take action whether it be for the first time, second time or umpteenth time – it’s never too early or too late to begin - you should take advantage!

Health Care Reform (HCR) has to happen at some point because we can’t sustain our current system without bankrupting families and the country. Your voice counts in the re-shaping of America’s health care landscape. As a health care provider, PPMET is very interested in how HCR plays out. First off, we must make sure that women are included in HCR. The whole woman (including the very important reproductive parts) should be covered. Basically, we won’t support a bill that leaves women in a worse situation after passage than they are right now. Secondly, we expect community providers to be included in any reform measure because right now millions of women, men and teens choose a community provider like Planned Parenthood as their primary provider of health care due to location, proximity, convenience, price and service. These millions deserve to keep their preferred care-providers under a new health insurance program.

I hope you keep clicking to take action, calling your elected officials, and acting according to your conscience.

World AIDS Day – What are You Doing to Stop a Epidemic?

Each year PPMET commemorates World AIDS Day with a visible reminder so that folks in Nashville can see the reality and impact of HIV/AIDS. In our community and worldwide HIV/AIDS continues to be a death sentence even with the progress scientists have made in drugs and drug “cocktails.”  PPMET has partnered with Vanderbilt's HIV Vaccine Trials Unit to raise awareness of both the reality of HIV/AIDS and the possibility of ending its threat with a viable vaccine that works for everyone. 

Worldwide*:

• People living with AIDS (as of 2007) – 33 million
• People who have died of AIDS – over 25 million

United States*:

• People in the US who have HIV/AIDS – approx 1 million
• People who have HIV/AIDS but have not been tested or diagnosed – 1 in 5

*http://www.avert.org/aids-statistics.htm

Tennessee**:

• There have been over 20,000 cases of HIV diagnosed in Tennessee between 2004-2008 & nearly 5,500 deaths due to HIV/AIDS during those years.
• In Middle Tennessee, there have been nearly 7,000 new cases of HIV/AIDS between 2004-08 & over 1,700 have died from HIV/AIDS in that same time period.
• In Nashville/Davidson County Region, there have been over 5,000 cases of HIV/AIDS reported between 2004-08 & over 1,200 deaths from HIV/AIDS in the same span of years.

**http://health.state.tn.us/STD/data.htm  - numbers do not reflect the number of people living with HIV/AIDS prior to 2004 or after 2008.

Take this short quiz to learn more: http://bethegeneration.nih.gov/go/hiv-vaccine-quiz

Scientists have been working for well over 20 years to find a cure and now they are hard at work looking for a vaccine to prevent infection of HIV/AIDS. There is something you can do: talk to people about HIV/AIDS, the statistics around the continuing epidemic, about safer/lower risk behaviors (including using condoms each and every time they engage in sexual activity) and get involved in Vanderbilt’s HIV Vaccine Program. Together, we can be part of the generation that stops the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Visit www.ppmet.org for more information on how you can get involved.

Volunteer Opportunities, Openings & Internships

Please call me at 615.345.0952 or email jessicad@ppmet.org for more information and to sign up.

This one goes out to my homies! I really appreciate the volunteers who have been showing up lately: Sarah Rose, Erica, Kyndall, Brittany, Ashley, Taryn, Anna, and Chris. You all make my job worthwhile and really help PPMET meet its mission of proudly providing the highest quality, professionalism and access to reproductive, sexual and complementary health care services and information; educational programs that enhance understanding of human sexuality; and advocating for public policies that guarantee these rights and ensure access to these services.