Building on Firm Foundations: The 2015 Consultation on Strengthening Partnerships Between Faith-Based Organizations and PEPFAR to Build Capacity for Sustained Responses to HIV/AIDS

In May 2012, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in collaboration with St. Paul’s University (SPU) and Emory University’s Interfaith Health Program (IHP), hosted a consultation on the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in sustaining country and community leadership in the response to HIV/AIDS. Participants included faith leaders from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. In April 2015, PEPFAR, SPU, and IHP once again convened FBO leaders in a consultation to review the recommendations made in the first meeting, further examine critical issues in addressing HIV/AIDS, share valuable insights from experiences in responding to HIV/AIDS, and to chart a path for future efforts.  READ MORE ABOUT THE CONSULTATION»  READ THE CONSULTATION KEY RECOMMENDATIONS»

The Politics of Compassion:  Human Rights and Religion in Global Health and Development

On October 2, 2014, IHP and the Joseph W. Blount Center sponsored a lecture and panel discussion with Dr. Amanullah DeSondy.  The appeal to human rights has long served as a primary moral basis for public health or development practice in global contexts. Proponents of this approach believe that the human rights framework offers a common ground from which people from various cultural, religious, and political contexts can act together to address health, social, and economic challenges; critics argue that it offers yet another way for imposing Western cultural and political norms on societies.  READ MORE, WATCH THE VIDEO, VIEW THE PHOTOS»

The Normal Heart Movie Premiere

IHP, in partnership with AID Atlanta, Rollins School of Public Health, and Emory University’s Center for AIDS Research, sponsored the premiere of the HBO Films drama The Normal Heart on May 14 at the Carter Center. Adapted from Larry Kramer’s groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning play of the same name, The Normal Heart tells the story of the onset of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation’s sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

IHP-ASTHO-CDC Meeting 2014:  Faith-based and Public Health Partnerships:  Strengthening Community Networks

IHP works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) in an initiative to ensure that influenza prevention information and vaccinations reach vulnerable, hard-to-reach, and minority populations.  This year’s conference, Faith-Based and Public Health Partnerships:  Strengthening Community Networks, took place April 28-29 at Emory University.  READ MORE»

Webinar:  Public Health and Faith Community Partnerships Model Practices

On Tuesday, April 29, IHP and ASTHO conducted a live webinar on Public Health and Faith Community Partnerships.  The purpose of this learning event was to disseminate knowledge and promote replication of model practices known to contribute to the reach of seasonal influenza prevention to vulnerable, at-risk, and minority populations.  READ MORE»

Call Me Kuchu Movie Screening and Discussion

On April 7, 2014, IHP, The Joseph W. Blount Center, Emory Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Life, and Sacred Worth at Candler School of Theology sponsored a movie screening and discussion of the documentary film, Call Me Kuchu.  Read more>>

AIDS Legacy Series:  Interview with  Congressman John Lewis

On  November 26, 2013, IHP Director, Sandra Thurman, interviewed Congressman John Lewis as part of the AIDS Legacy series capturing the extraordinary history of the AIDS movement.  VIEW THE INTERVIEW»

Community of Scholars Reception

On November 6, 2012, IHP and Emory’s Religion and Public Health Collaborative hosted a Community of Scholars Reception.   Our special guest this year was Vice Chancellor Joseph Galgalo from St. Paul’s University, Limuru, Kenya.  READ MORE»

Imbuto Foundation Tenth Anniversary

In 2001, the Imbuto Foundation was originally established as the Protection and Care of Families against HIV/AIDS (PACFA) as a project under the Office of the First Lady of Rwanda, Her Excellency Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, to mobilize the resources needed in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

IHP’s Director, Sandy Thurman, spoke at the Tenth Anniversary celebration in Rwanda, noting the Imbuto Foundation’s remarkable growth and unparalleled progress over the last ten years.  READ MORE»

From Darkness to Light:  An Interfaith Service of Hope and Commitment

As part of a series marking the 25th anniversary of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the Emory Interfaith Health Program, the NAMES Project Foundation (custodian of the Quilt), and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., sponsored an interfaith worship service, From Darkness to Light:  An Interfaith Service of Hope and Commitment.  Dr. James Curran, Dean of the Emory Rollins School of Public Health, delivered the keynote address.  REAM MORE»

Washington National Cathedral Interfaith Service Honoring Those Living With HIV/AIDS

On July 18,  Sandy Thurman, IHP Director, joined The Right Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon, retired bishop of Washington, pro tempore, Ebrahim Rasool, South African ambassador to the U.S., Julie Rhoad, executive director of the NAMES Project Foundation, and The Rev. Gina Campbell, Cathedral director of worship at the blessing of a panel created by St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa.  This panel was blessed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on June 22 prior to being sent to the U.S. for display at Washington National Cathedral.

An interfaith memorial service took place at the National Cathedral on Saturday, July 21 where the quilt was on display and Dean Curran of the Rollins School of Public Health delivered the keynote address.  READ MORE»

PEPFAR and Faith-based Organizations:  Partners in Sustaining Community and Country Leadership in Global HIV/AIDS

On May 28-30, 2012, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) organized a regional consultative forum in Limuru, Kenya, PEPFAR and Faith-Based Organizations: Partners in Sustaining Community and Country Leadership in Global HIV/AIDS. In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya, IHP convened representatives from Christian and Muslim faith-based organizations working in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Participants discussed opportunities for faith-based organizations to enhance their role in sustaining community and country-led responses to HIV/AIDS.  Over the course of three days, participants shared best practices, lessons learned, and narratives about innovative and effective responses to addressing the needs of individuals and communities affected by HIV/AIDS.  READ MORE»