Ruth Ann Russell Honored with Paul & Paula Murphy Human Sexuality Award

Ruth Ann Russell, Denver, will receive the 2024 Paul and Paula Murphy Human Sexuality Award from the Board of Directors of the Center for Health and Hope. The honor will be bestowed at the annual Gathering to H.E.A.L. (Helping End AIDS in our Lifetime) Breakfast at Hope United Methodist Church, Greenwood Village, on Saturday, September 28, 2024.

"When Don told me about the award, I was speechless," said Ruth Ann. "I was so very surprised and honored and grateful. I loved and admired Paula and Paul Murphy so this deeply impacts me to receive this award. I have volunteered for the Center for Health and Hope for many years and so respect and admire the work done by the Center."

"Put persons first" was the theme of the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany, attended by four Center representatives: Chin Keong Tan, William Bradford, Bonnie and Don Messer.

"Too often," says Don Messer, "prejudice against people prohibits effective prevention and treatment. Stigma against key populations like men who have sex with men, commercial sex workers, injecting drug users, prisoners, and refugees keeps us from curtailing the spread of HIV." 

The conference highlighted recent scientific breakthroughs in Africa that demonstrate that twice-yearly injectable PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis medication) could be 100% effective in stopping HIV. But will the medicine be affordable? And when?