LHDs face challenges in documenting syndemic approaches

🌍 Ending HIV, Hepatitis & STIs Requires More Than Medicine—It Requires Collaboration. Global health has made remarkable progress over the past decade. Millions more people now have access to HIV treatment, new infections have declined, and advances in prevention and diagnostics continue to transform healthcare. However, progress is not guaranteed. Funding challenges, health in equalities, rising antimicrobial resistance, and limited access to essential healthcare services continue to slow the fight against HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The way forward is clear: ✔️ Stronger primary healthcare systems ✔️ Integrated disease prevention and treatment ✔️ Community-led healthcare initiatives ✔️ Digital health and smarter surveillance ✔️ Equitable access to innovative medicines, diagnostics, and preventive technologies Achieving the global goal of eliminating these diseases as public health threats by 2030 will require sustained commitment from governments, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and communities worldwide. As future healthcare professionals, we all have a role in promoting awareness, supporting evidence-based practices, and contributing to stronger public health systems. Healthy communities begin with accessible, inclusive, and innovative healthcare. #WHO #PublicHealth #HIV #Hepatitis #STI #GlobalHealth #Healthcare #DiseasePrevention #HealthEquity #PrimaryHealthcare #DigitalHealth #MedicalResearch #PharmaceuticalIndustry #Pharmacy #FuturePharmacist

Most Chlamydia trachomatis infections in young women cause no noticeable symptoms, meaning many go undetected and untreated in settings that rely on symptom-based screening.  A recent study from CERI’s Women’s Health Program leader, Prof. Jo-Ann Passmore, and collaborators led by Smritee Dabee found that chlamydia infection is associated with increased activation of cervical immune cells that are susceptible to HIV infection, even when there are no visible signs of disease. Importantly, the strongest immune activation was linked not to the chlamydia strain (genovar), but to repeated or persistent infection.  These findings reinforce a clear, actionable message: chlamydia testing shouldn’t wait for symptoms. Routine testing, particularly in adolescent girls and young women can help identify and treat infections early, reducing reproductive health complications and potentially lowering biological susceptibility to HIV.  Read the full study: https://lnkd.in/dEY_ddh2

Bill, The world has made extraordinary progress against HIV — from antiretroviral therapy to long‑acting agents like lenacapavir, and now the possibility of single‑shot cures. These breakthroughs prove that innovation, investment, and global collaboration can change the course of a pandemic. But one truth remains: the immune system is central to every infectious disease. Nutrition, metabolic health, chronic inflammation, and biological resilience determine how the body responds to viral challenges — including HIV. Strengthening the immune system does not replace medical treatment, but it does enhance the body’s ability to defend, repair, and recover. A future where HIV is no longer a global threat will require both biomedical innovation and improved immune health worldwide. Science is showing us the path. Investment will determine how fast we walk it. #HealthEquity #WomensHealth #PublicHealth #HIV #LongevityScience #ImmuneHealth

Very glad to see my PhD work finally published! This study represents years of learning, persistence, and collaboration. I'm deeply grateful to my supervisors Naglaa Shoukry Petronela Ancuta, collaborators, and everyone who contributed to making this work possible. Proud to share our findings and excited to see them contribute to advancing HIV cure research in the context of HCV co infection. https://lnkd.in/guX5D_Qf

Lab-Quality At-Home HIV Test Receives $1.3 Million NIH Grant at UMass Amherst advances a home diagnostic aiming for lab sensitivity in early infection, moving toward real-world usability an... https://lnkd.in/dfrYpcYR #LabQualityHIVTest #UMassAmherst #NIHGrant #HomeDiagnostics

We're excited to launch the SAFEStart + website! SAFEStart+ partners with countries and communities to advance the elimination of vertical transmission (EVT) of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, Chagas disease, and other infectious diseases through integrated, people-centered care.   Visit the website to: Learn about our work, partnerships, and advisory bodies Discover our learning and research agendas Access the latest EVT resources, tools, and guidance Explore country experiences and learnings Join our learning community by subscribing to our newsletter   As countries strengthen primary health care platforms and work toward healthier futures for mothers, newborns, and families, SAFEStart+ is committed to sharing practical approaches, learnings, and evidence to advance integrated EVT approaches.   🔗 Check it out here:  https://safestartplus.org/ PATH |The World Hepatitis Alliance|International Community of Women living with HIV Eastern Africa - ICWEA |Davina Canagasabey |Lisa Mueller Scott |Dr. Albert Komba |Kimberly Green

🧬 Understanding HIV/AIDS: From Infection to Immune System Impact HIV primarily targets CD4 (T-helper) cells, gradually weakening the immune system and increasing vulnerability to opportunistic infections and certain cancers. Understanding its transmission, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment is essential for healthcare professionals and the wider community. 💡 Key message: With early diagnosis and effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV can lead long, healthy lives. Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) through sexual transmission. Knowledge reduces stigma. Awareness strengthens prevention. Science saves lives. 🧪🔬 #HIV #AIDS #HIVAwareness #MedicalLaboratoryScience #ClinicalLaboratory #Microbiology #Immunology #ART #PublicHealth #HealthcareEducation #LaboratoryMedicine #MedicalEducation #BScMLS #MedTech

Dr. Youngji Jo, Assistant Professor in Public Health Sciences, was awarded a K01 titled "Evaluating the Impact of Integrated and Differentiated HIV–NCD Service Delivery through Mathematical Modeling." The project develops a behavior- and systems-aware model to evaluate integrated service delivery for multimorbidity management. Drawing on the Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)'s large NIH-funded trial dataset (TASKPEN), the work will inform highly effective and cost-effective intervention approaches under the health-system constraints — capacity and budget — that must be addressed for integrated service delivery to scale. This setting provides a unique, accelerated opportunity to study multimorbidity patterns, care-delivery challenges, and outcomes of integrated care models directly relevant to older adults living with HIV in the United States. With 54% of U.S. people living with HIV now aged 50 or older and an estimated 60–80% experiencing multimorbidity, this work will inform integrated care for Ryan White clinics and other safety-net systems, where strengthening chronic disease coordination is a national priority. - #UConn #research #GlobalHealth

A new modeling study in JAMA Network Open puts hard numbers on a trend healthcare leaders should be watching closely: the aging HIV population within Medicare. Key projections for 2026-2035: - Medicare beneficiaries 65+ with HIV: 122,000 → ~194,000 - Cumulative Medicare cost: $187.2 billion - Antiretroviral therapy alone: 63% of that spending The study's authors point to drug pricing policy, including IRA negotiation and upcoming generic competition, as key levers to manage this cost trajectory. But they also flag a tradeoff worth watching: potential downstream effects on the 340B program, which many HIV care organizations rely on for funding. Full analysis in our latest coverage https://hubs.li/Q04p3jM60

🩸 The NHS's pioneering bloodborne virus testing programme in A&E has now identified almost 1,900 people who were unknowingly living with HIV since its launch in 2022. The impact of early diagnosis cannot be overstated: new evidence suggests that the first 802 diagnoses alone could prevent around 187 HIV-related deaths and 28 onward transmissions over the next 20 years, while enabling people to access life-saving treatment sooner. With 93% of those diagnosed having no record of a previous HIV test, the programme is successfully reaching people who may otherwise have remained undiagnosed. BIVDA recognises the importance of early diagnosis to improve patient outcomes, support prevention efforts, and make healthcare systems more sustainable. This initiative demonstrates the vital role that diagnostic testing plays in identifying disease sooner, saving lives, and reducing the burden of infection across communities. #Diagnostics #EarlyDiagnosis #HIV #HealthcareInnovation #NHS