The panel discussion will also include experts from non-government organizations, and public health professionals involved with HIV/AIDS issues in the Czech Republic. The Czech government has an HIV/AIDS action plan and there are organizations that have addressed this issue for years. Yet, awareness of HIV and AIDS remains conceptual for most people, or they do not consider it a problem that affects them. Media report a record number of diagnosed cases of HIV, nearly 3,000 projected by the end of 2016, a worsening trend.
According to UNAIDS, there were 2,620 diagnosed cases in 2015, three times higher than a decade ago. This figure represents only 0.22 percent of the Czech population, but the percentage is higher in certain subgroups. 95 percent of cases are sexually transmitted and of those over 70 percent are through homosexual contact. Major issues to overcome include fear of test results, risky behavior even among some who know their status, and less-than-welcoming attitudes among some medical professionals. How can the Czech Republic learn from the U.S. example of tackling this disease, destigmatizing testing, and increasing awareness of the need to know one’s status? Join us to find out.
U.S. Embassy Consul Nikolas Trendowski will moderate the discussion.
Speaker: Timothy Kane currently directs the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center and Office of Religious Life to promote student development and campus community health on George Washington University Campus in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kane offers leadership to the campus community on strategic planning and visioning, student development and community empowerment, communication and marketing, networking and resource development, educational programming, academic success and personnel management. Mr. Kane also directs GU’s participation in The President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge. With a professional background in higher education, Mr. Kane brings previous experience in academic service learning and diversity inclusion to the U.S. Speakers program. Mr. Kane also holds a certification in HIV/AIDS Studies, providing him with context to perform outreach and empowerment against stigma development programs for the HIV/AIDS communities (HIV/AIDS outreach and empowerment against stigma development).
