Ana-Maria Schweitzer’s Post

🎥 Did you hear? 🌟 The first three videos of our Southern Region CDR Video Series are out now, offering valuable insights for health departments and community partners! 🚀 Join us in breaking down key concepts in HIV Cluster Detection and Response and deepening your understanding of this critical public health strategy. 🎬 🌐 Check out them out now and stay tuned for more! 🔗 Watch the series: bit.ly/CDRVideoSeries #SouthernRegionCDR #HIVClusterDetectionandResponse #PublicHealth #NASTAD #VideoSeries

June is Men’s Health Month! This annual observance, established in 1994, is a time to help educate men and their families about the importance of being proactive about their health by implementing preventive health practices and healthy living decisions. On average, men in the United States die nearly 6 years earlier than women and are at higher risk for many serious diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, and HIV. By addressing SDOH through a comprehensive approach, we can work to advance health equity, reduce health disparities, and Be the Source for Better Health for racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men. Access accurate and reliable information on the health of racial and ethnic minority men and learn how you can Be the #SourceForBetterHealth this #MensHealthMonth with resources from @minorityhealth: https://lnkd.in/gjwR6HwM #MHM #MensHealth #HealthyMen #MinorityHealth #SharedHarvest

On this #WorldAIDSDay, we join World Health Organization in urging global leaders and citizens to “Take the rights path: My health, my right!” 💪 Health is a fundamental right, yet inequalities continue to hinder progress in ending AIDS. 🚨 It is recently reported that new HIV infections in Germany in 2023 returned to pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 2,200 cases. While concerning, many experts underscores the potential of self-testing to lower undiagnosed cases—a powerful reminder of the role home testing can play in prevention efforts. 🔍 We believe #hometesting matters because: ✅Self-sampling kits allow individuals to check their health in the comfort of their homes, bypassing stigma and integrating testing into diverse lifestyles. ✅Early diagnosis through accessible testing empowers timely treatment, reducing transmission and improving outcomes. However, challenges remain. Enhancing test reliability and expanding access must go hand in hand. As the experts suggests, we need collaborative efforts among test developers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to improve both the availability and accuracy of home testing solutions. 🌍

Have you ever been in a position where your daily work directly impacts lives in profound ways? That was my reality at FHI 360, where every day was a step towards transforming the lives of those living with HIV. Here’s a glimpse into how my experience shaped my approach to health and wellness: – Counseling and Testing: Providing counseling and testing for HIV patients was more than a job—it was a mission to ensure they received the support and medication refills they needed. Each session was a chance to offer reassurance and practical guidance. – Training and Workshops: Immersed in training and workshops to understand the needs and challenges faced by people to provide more targeted and empathetic support. – Comprehensive Care: Following up with every identified case to ensure patients get care and live lives enriched by support rather than overshadowed by their condition. It’s these insights that fuel my passion for making a difference every day. I’m eager to continue this journey of transformation and empowerment in health and wellness. If you’re looking to make a meaningful impact or need support in your wellness journey, let’s connect! #healthyliving #wellnessjourney #holistichealth #healthylifestyle #healthcoach #wellnesscoach

Feeling inspired after the IHI Forum keynotes, including Dr. Fauci’s reflections on his decades of leadership during major pandemics. His work—from HIV/AIDS to COVID-19—shaped policy and offered science-based guidance in the face of uncertainty. Yet, as he noted, the pandemic response was often divided, with feelings driving public perception and response more than facts. This ties into another keynote message by Dr Mate- ‘Don’t follow feelings with facts’ - acknowledge they shape each other. In healthcare, emotions set the stage for how facts are understood. Often, facts and feelings must work together. When fear and mistrust take the lead, even the most robust science can struggle to break through. Facts tell the story but feelings dictate how it is understood. #IHIForum #pandemic #facts #healthcare

Living longer with HIV is a triumph, but it brings new challenges like #hypertension. As reported in our recent study* conducted in the National Teaching Hospital in #Benin, a high proportion of patients on ART experience this silent killer. Age, lifestyle, and overwhelming or obesity are significant risk factors associated with hypertension #prevalence in this population like in the general population. On this World AIDS Day, let’s move beyond the virus—let’s protect hearts, strengthen lives, and champion holistic care for all. *https://lnkd.in/evNsFgZ6 #WorldAIDSDay #HealthyWithHIV Health Data Acumen

This year, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority is focusing on improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) men through its theme “Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections.” This theme calls on each of us to understand how the unique environments, cultures, histories, and circumstances these men impact their overall health.  On average, men in the United States die nearly six years earlier than women and are at higher risk for many serious diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer and HIV. Access accurate and reliable information on the health of racial and ethnic minority men and learn how you can be the #SourceForBetterHealth this #MensHealthMonth: https://lnkd.in/gjwR6HwM

Today, at the Taita Taveta health stakeholders forum held in Voi, I shared on the role of Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) in improving access and retention to quality healthcare. SBCC, as an interactive process that uses strategic communication that is research driven, planned and iterative to promote positive health behaviours is a sure combination to biomedical and structural interventions to achieve healthiest outcomes for individuals and communities. With our focus today on quality HIV/TB care, SBCC plays a pivotal role in the entire continuum of care. From demand generation for services, to improving provider-client relation and adherence to treatment. Therefore, it is important that programs adopt social behaviour change communication strategies in their programming to ensure that we are not just looking at our clients as the audience but providers too.

🎉 The 340B Drug Pricing Program turns 31 today! On the eve of the election, we celebrate a program with enduring bipartisan support. For three decades, 340B has been the backbone of America's public health safety net, helping providers stretch scarce federal resources to serve more patients. 💡 Three things you might not know about the program: 1️⃣ 1 in 10 Americans rely on community health centers for their care 2️⃣ Ryan White clinics leverage 340B savings to provide HIV treatment to 575,000 people annually, achieving a 89% viral suppression rate (vs. 65% national avg.) 3️⃣ New research published in JAMA shows that when FQHCs expand their 340B programs, they deliver more care to uninsured patients and boost preventive services Three decades in, 340B continues to demonstrate what's possible when we prioritize access to care for all Americans. #Healthcare #PublicHealth #HealthEquity #340B #CommunityHealth

Confronting Misinformation: Lessons from COVID and AIDS In this video, we explore the impact of misinformation during COVID-19 and its parallels to the HIV/AIDS crisis. Discover insights from healthcare leaders and the urgent need for truth in medicine, inspired by the author's new book, "Dead Wrong." Let's navigate healthcare's challenges together. #Misinformation #COVID19 #HealthcareEducation #PublicHealth #AIDSEpidemic #BookLaunch #TrustInScience #HealthLeaders #InformedChoices #HealthcareInnovation