HIV/AIDS Research in Asian & Pacific
Islander Communities Showcased at National Conference this
Weekend
(Oakland, November 15 2002)
Research seminars and workshops on topics such as access
to healthcare among HIV-positive Asians living in New York
City, the relationship between Asian migration and HIV/AIDS,
disease prevention in Asian and Pacific Islander (A&PI)
drug users and sex workers, and educational efforts on HIV/AIDS
in U.S. Muslim communities highlight the first annual conference
on HIV/AIDS research in A&PI communities, which kicked
off here tonight. The event, A&PI SHARE, runs through
Sunday and is organized by Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness
Center and the University of California, San Francisco School
of Medicine, in collaboration with the Office of AIDS Research,
National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
"Historically, Asian and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.
have not registered on the HIV/AIDS radar, and only in the
last few years have we made serious headway in conducting
culturally specific research," said John Manzon-Santos,
executive director of Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness
Center, who spoke to the 350 attendees at A&PI SHARE’s
opening session. "This event is our first opportunity
to showcase these research efforts, foster collaborations
between researchers, community-based organizations, and the
people they serve, and inspire future educational efforts
here and among Asian communities worldwide."
Conference attendees choose from twenty-one sessions grouped
into the following tracks: The Asia Pacific Connection: Research
and Practice; Facilitating and Conducting Research Partnerships;
Research on Geographically Diverse Underserved Communities;
and Research on Prevention and Care.
Three sessions on Saturday, November 16 address core issues
for A&PIs and HIV/AIDS. At 10:30 a.m., the workshop "Access
to Care Among Undocumented Asians in New York City Who are
Living with HIV" considers the cultural attitudes, behaviors,
and perceptions that affect
how undocumented, non-U.S. citizen Asians living with HIV/AIDS
access care in New York City. Later, at 2 p.m., the "Participatory
Action Research on Migration and HIV/AIDS" program offers
an initial look at the relationship between mobility or migration
and HIV/AIDS. Vast numbers of people move on a daily basis
throughout Asia, making the topic particularly relevant.
Also at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 16 is the session "HIV/AIDS
Issues in Muslim Communities." This session identifies
challenges related to HIV/AIDS prevention among Muslim communities
in the U.S., and outlines strategies used to provide culturally
relevant education.
A 9 a.m. session on Sunday, November 17 rounds out the educational
program. At "Conducting HIV/AIDS Prevention Research
for Disenfranchised A&PI," session leaders share
the results of drug abuse and HIV prevention intervention
studies targeting A&PI drug users, female sex workers,
and male-to-female transgender sex workers.
A&PI SHARE concludes on Sunday afternoon, November 17
with a keynote address by Ambassador Jack Chow. Chow is Special
Representative of the Secretary of State for Global HIV/AIDS
and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Science, U.S.
Department of State.
For additional information about A&PI SHARE, contact
Denise Tang at Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center.
Phone is (415) 292-3420 x323; e-mail is denise@apiwellness.org.
For more information contact:
Mitchell Friedman, APR
(415) 824-1466 phone
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