AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Encyclopedia
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 152,000 individuals in 26 countries worldwide in the US
, Africa
, Latin America
/Caribbean
, the Asia-Pacific
Region and Eastern Europe
. The organization’s mission is “to provide cutting-edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay." More information is available at its website: www.aidshealth.org.
History
AHF began in 1987 as the AIDS Hospice Foundation. With patients dying on the streets of Los Angeles
, a small group of activists committed themselves to “fight for the living, and care for the dying.” The group sponsored legislation
that made it possible to open the first licensed HIV
/AIDS facility for the terminally ill
in California
, named after AIDS Hospice Foundation Co-founder Chris Brownlie.
In 1990, AIDS Hospice Foundation officially changed its name to AIDS Healthcare Foundation in response to a growing need for ongoing medical care for its patients. In order to fund its efforts, AHF opened its first Out of the Closet
Thrift Store in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, California later that year. Revenue from the sales of donated goods fund patient care. Out of the Closet went on to be the largest HIV/AIDS retail fundraising
vehicle in the U.S. with 21 stores in Northern
and Southern California
and in Florida
. Ninety-six cents of every dollar earned through the stores goes toward HIV/AIDS prevention and care in the U.S. and globally. More information is available at www.outofthecloset.org.
The first AHF Healthcare Center opened in Hollywood at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center
in 1991. The advent of the AIDS drug “cocktail” in 1996 ushered in a treatment revolution. AHF began supplying protease inhibitors
to patients without guarantees of reimbursement
s and at great financial risk
. In 1999, the state of Florida signed the largest disease management
contract with AHF for the care of thousands of Florida Medicaid
recipients living with AIDS, creating Positive Healthcare. AHF launched its first AHF Pharmacy in 2000 at its AHF Healthcare Center in downtown Los Angeles. That same year, the organization opened its first clinic named after and in partnership with basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr
– who was diagnosed with HIV in 1991.
After the 2000 International AIDS Conference
in Durban
, South Africa
, AHF joined with local activists to form partnerships to test and treat South African residents. AIDS Healthcare Foundation opened its first clinic outside the U.S. in the poor community of Umlazi
in Durban, South Africa in 2002. Called the Ithembalabantu “People’s Hope” Clinic, it became the model upon which all other AHF global healthcare centers have been based. In 2007, AHF commemorated its 20th year serving people living with HIV/AIDS.
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 152,000 individuals in 26 countries worldwide in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
/Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, the Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
Region and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. The organization’s mission is “to provide cutting-edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay." More information is available at its website: www.aidshealth.org.
History
AHF began in 1987 as the AIDS Hospice Foundation. With patients dying on the streets of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, a small group of activists committed themselves to “fight for the living, and care for the dying.” The group sponsored legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
that made it possible to open the first licensed HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS facility for the terminally ill
Terminal illness
Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, named after AIDS Hospice Foundation Co-founder Chris Brownlie.
In 1990, AIDS Hospice Foundation officially changed its name to AIDS Healthcare Foundation in response to a growing need for ongoing medical care for its patients. In order to fund its efforts, AHF opened its first Out of the Closet
Out of the Closet
Out of the Closet is a nonprofit chain of thrift stores whose revenues provide medical care for patients with HIV/AIDS. The chain is owned and operated by AIDS Healthcare Foundation , a Los Angeles-based global organization that provides medical, preventative, and educational resources for patients...
Thrift Store in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, California later that year. Revenue from the sales of donated goods fund patient care. Out of the Closet went on to be the largest HIV/AIDS retail fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
vehicle in the U.S. with 21 stores in Northern
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
and Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Ninety-six cents of every dollar earned through the stores goes toward HIV/AIDS prevention and care in the U.S. and globally. More information is available at www.outofthecloset.org.
The first AHF Healthcare Center opened in Hollywood at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, formerly known as Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, is a private hospital located at 1300 North Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The hospital has 434 beds.-History:...
in 1991. The advent of the AIDS drug “cocktail” in 1996 ushered in a treatment revolution. AHF began supplying protease inhibitors
Protease inhibitor (pharmacology)
Protease inhibitors are a class of drugs used to treat or prevent infection by viruses, including HIV and Hepatitis C. PIs prevent viral replication by inhibiting the activity of proteases, e.g.HIV-1 protease, enzymes used by the viruses to cleave nascent proteins for final assembly of new...
to patients without guarantees of reimbursement
Reimbursement
Reimbursement is the act of compensating someone for an expense . Often, a person is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses when the person incurs those expenses through employment or in an account of carrying out the duties for another party or member....
s and at great financial risk
Financial risk
Financial risk an umbrella term for multiple types of risk associated with financing, including financial transactions that include company loans in risk of default. Risk is a term often used to imply downside risk, meaning the uncertainty of a return and the potential for financial loss...
. In 1999, the state of Florida signed the largest disease management
Disease management
Disease management may refer to:*Disease management *Disease management...
contract with AHF for the care of thousands of Florida Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
recipients living with AIDS, creating Positive Healthcare. AHF launched its first AHF Pharmacy in 2000 at its AHF Healthcare Center in downtown Los Angeles. That same year, the organization opened its first clinic named after and in partnership with basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
– who was diagnosed with HIV in 1991.
After the 2000 International AIDS Conference
International AIDS Conference
The International AIDS Society is the custodian of the International AIDS Conference, the largest regular conference on any health or development issue. These conferences provide a forum for the interaction of science, community and leadership, and are claimed to strengthen an evidence-based...
in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, AHF joined with local activists to form partnerships to test and treat South African residents. AIDS Healthcare Foundation opened its first clinic outside the U.S. in the poor community of Umlazi
Umlazi
Umlazi is a township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. The township is located south-west of Durban....
in Durban, South Africa in 2002. Called the Ithembalabantu “People’s Hope” Clinic, it became the model upon which all other AHF global healthcare centers have been based. In 2007, AHF commemorated its 20th year serving people living with HIV/AIDS.