About Us

Health GAP is an international advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all people living with HIV have access to life-saving medicines, that there is sufficient funding to ensure access, and that treatment programs deliver quality care.

Our team pairs pragmatic policy work with bold grassroots action to win access to quality HIV treatment, care, and prevention for all who need it, particularly for the poorest and most marginalized communities in the world.

READ OUR STORY

Founded in 1999 when virtually no one in sub-Saharan Africa had access to life-saving HIV treatment, Health GAP played a pivotal role in challenging conventional wisdom that AIDS drugs were too expensive, too difficult to administer, and too low on the priority list to afford access to people in the global South.

Over the past two decades, Health GAP has successfully helped drive down the costs of antiretroviral medicines – in some cases to less than 99% of their initial price. Health GAP played a key role in winning new donor initiatives to support HIV treatment scale-up – such as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with dozens of organizations in the global South to increase access to quality HIV treatment, prevention, and other related services that meet the needs of people living with and affected by HIV. We believe that the human right to life and to health must prevail over drug companies’ excessive profits, expanding patent rights, and other harmful monopolist approaches.

WHAT WE DO

Our work is focused on four strategic priorities:

Access to Medicines

Funding the Fight

Health Justice

Transparency & Accountability

We campaign for access to life-saving HIV medicines and increased resources for the global HIV response. We work with allies in the global South and in the UK, France, the Netherlands, and other countries that comprise the bulk of the world’s HIV funding to formulate policies that achieve these goals and mobilize grassroots support for these efforts. We confront politicians, government bureaucrats, pharmaceutical corporations, and international institutions when their policies or practices stand in the way of health justice.

Health GAP also invests tremendous resources into sustaining and growing the global AIDS movement. We are the fiscal sponsor of the Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC), a U.S.-based network of students and young people demanding delivery on the promise of an AIDS-free generation.

OUR APPROACH

As AIDS activists, Health GAP is part of a social justice movement that responds to long odds by rejecting the status quo, organizing, and fighting back. We know that our seats at the table are only as useful as the movement pushing from the outside is strong.

Grassroots Power

building people power in the U.S. and around the world and mobilizing that grassroots strength when people living with HIV are under attack

Analysis

interpreting government and pharmaceutical corporation policy with an activist’s eye, and shining a light on injustice, lack of accountability, and lies, even when it’s unpopular

Advocacy

tirelessly fighting for increased funding for global AIDS programs and equitable access to affordable medicines. Forcing change when governments threaten to advance the rights of criminalized and marginalized communities

WHERE WE WORK

Brazil: As a long-standing site of U.S. government bullying in response to HIV treatment programs built on cost cutting generic medicines, Health GAP has supported civil society campaigns to protect affordable access to medicines against U.S. government pressure.
Colombia: We have supported campaigns to protect affordable access to medicines against industry lawsuits and U.S. government pressure.
Geneva: We advocate to hold powerful global health institutions accountable, including: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, and Unitaid. Health GAP staff currently serve on the NGO delegation to the Unitaid Board and on the Developed Country NGO delegation to the Board of the Global Fund.
India: We campaign with Indian allies on intellectual property, trade, and access to medicines and fight to support India’s role as the world’s leading producer of generic medicines.
Kenya: We campaign alongside civil society to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention; watchdog HIV funding from the U.S. government, multilateral institutions, and the government of Kenya; fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers); and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic HIV medicines faster. Health GAP’s Kenya-based team member powers our work here and beyond.
Malawi: We campaign alongside civil society to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention; watchdog HIV funding from the U.S. government, multilateral institutions, and the government of Malawi; fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers); and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic HIV medicines faster.
Mozambique: We campaign alongside civil society to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention; watchdog HIV funding from the U.S. government, multilateral institutions, and the government of Mozambique; fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers); and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic HIV medicines faster.
New York, NY: New York City is home to the United Nations (UN), and hosts the yearly UN General Assembly and other UN high-level meetings – important sites for activism to mobilize political will to end the AIDS pandemic. New York is also home to Health GAP’s headquarters.
South Africa: Since 1999 Health GAP has been fighting for access to treatment by combating U.S. government trade pressure; pharmaceutical corporation lawsuits and price gouging; and more. Today we’re working alongside allies on a campaign to Fix the Patents Laws in South Africa to watchdog funding from the U.S. for the world’s largest HIV programs. Health GAP’s South Africa-based team member powers our work here and beyond.
Tanzania: We are fighting alongside civil society organizations in Tanzania to ensure access to evidence-based, comprehensive HIV prevention and quality treatment for all people living with HIV, to make sure that funding for HIV programs from the U.S. government and multilateral institutions is put to the best possible use, and to fight policies of exclusion and bigotry towards LGBTI communities and other marginalized populations.
Thailand: Thailand was early site of U.S. government bullying in response to HIV treatment programs built on cost cutting generic medicines. We have worked with local partners on multiple intellectual property, trade, and access to medicines campaigns, as well as campaigns to fight for human rights and access to harm reduction for people who use drugs and their communities.
Uganda: We fight alongside allies to win treatment and prevention scale up and to watchdog funding from the U.S. government, multilateral institutions and the Ugandan government. We helped secure access to more affordable medicines through patent law reforms. We’re also fighting to end maternal mortality, increase access to reproductive health care (including safe abortion), and to defeat exclusion and bigotry toward LGBTI communities and other marginalized people. Health GAP’s Uganda-based team member helps power our work here.
United States of America: Health GAP is a close activist partner and fiscal sponsor of the Student Global AIDS Campaign. Health GAP prioritizes building the power of young AIDS activists across the United States to demand U.S. accountability to end the AIDS pandemic.
Washington, DC: We work across the United States government to mobilize the funding needed for HIV treatment and prevention. We combat U.S. government trade policies that prioritize intellectual property and investor protections over access to life-saving medicines. Our two U.S.-based team members power our work here.
Zambia: We partner with civil society organizations in Zambia to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention, improve outdated HIV treatment policies, to make sure that funding for HIV programs from the U.S. government and multilateral institutions is put to the best possible use, to fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including men who have sex with men, LGBTI people and sex workers), and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic AIDS drugs faster.
Zimbabwe: We campaign alongside civil society organizations to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention, to watchdog funding from the U.S. government and and multilateral institutions, to fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers), and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic HIV medicines faster.
Brazil
As a long-standing site of U.S. government bullying in response to HIV treatment programs built on cost cutting generic medicines, Health GAP has supported civil society campaigns to protect affordable access to medicines against U.S. government pressure.
Colombia
We have supported campaigns to protect affordable access to medicines against industry lawsuits and U.S. government pressure.
Geneva
We advocate to hold powerful global health institutions accountable, including: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, and Unitaid. Health GAP staff currently serve on the NGO delegation to the Unitaid Board and on the Developed Country NGO delegation to the Board of the Global Fund.
India
We campaign with Indian allies on intellectual property, trade, and access to medicines and fight to support India’s role as the world’s leading producer of generic medicines.
Kenya
We campaign alongside civil society to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention; watchdog HIV funding from the U.S. government, multilateral institutions, and the government of Kenya; fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers); and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic HIV medicines faster. Health GAP’s Kenya-based team member powers our work here and beyond.
Malawi
We campaign alongside civil society to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention; watchdog HIV funding from the U.S. government, multilateral institutions, and the government of Malawi; fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers); and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic HIV medicines faster.
Mozambique
We campaign alongside civil society to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention; watchdog HIV funding from the U.S. government, multilateral institutions, and the government of Mozambique; fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers); and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic HIV medicines faster.
New York, NY
New York City is home to the United Nations (UN), and hosts the yearly UN General Assembly and other UN high-level meetings – important sites for activism to mobilize political will to end the AIDS pandemic. New York is also home to Health GAP’s headquarters.
South Africa
Since 1999 Health GAP has been fighting for access to treatment by combating U.S. government trade pressure; pharmaceutical corporation lawsuits and price gouging; and more. Today we’re working alongside allies on a campaign to Fix the Patents Laws in South Africa to watchdog funding from the U.S. for the world’s largest HIV programs. Health GAP’s South Africa-based team member powers our work here and beyond.
Tanzania
We are fighting alongside civil society organizations in Tanzania to ensure access to evidence-based, comprehensive HIV prevention and quality treatment for all people living with HIV, to make sure that funding for HIV programs from the U.S. government and multilateral institutions is put to the best possible use, and to fight policies of exclusion and bigotry towards LGBTI communities and other marginalized populations.
Thailand
Thailand was early site of U.S. government bullying in response to HIV treatment programs built on cost cutting generic medicines. We have worked with local partners on multiple intellectual property, trade, and access to medicines campaigns, as well as campaigns to fight for human rights and access to harm reduction for people who use drugs and their communities.
Uganda
We fight alongside allies to win treatment and prevention scale up and to watchdog funding from the U.S. government, multilateral institutions and the Ugandan government. We helped secure access to more affordable medicines through patent law reforms. We’re also fighting to end maternal mortality, increase access to reproductive health care (including safe abortion), and to defeat exclusion and bigotry toward LGBTI communities and other marginalized people. Health GAP’s Uganda-based team member helps power our work here.
United States of America
Health GAP is a close activist partner and fiscal sponsor of the Student Global AIDS Campaign. Health GAP prioritizes building the power of young AIDS activists across the United States to demand U.S. accountability to end the AIDS pandemic.
Washington, DC
We work across the United States government to mobilize the funding needed for HIV treatment and prevention. We combat U.S. government trade policies that prioritize intellectual property and investor protections over access to life-saving medicines. Our two U.S.-based team members power our work here.
Zambia
We partner with civil society organizations in Zambia to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention, improve outdated HIV treatment policies, to make sure that funding for HIV programs from the U.S. government and multilateral institutions is put to the best possible use, to fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including men who have sex with men, LGBTI people and sex workers), and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic AIDS drugs faster.
Zimbabwe
We campaign alongside civil society organizations to win increased access to quality HIV treatment and prevention, to watchdog funding from the U.S. government and and multilateral institutions, to fight for evidence-based and dignified services for marginalized communities (including LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers), and to mobilize communities to demand game-changing new generic HIV medicines faster.

TEAM

Asia Russell

Executive Director

Brian Macharia (they/them)

Coordinator, Health Justice and Human Rights

Brook Baker

Senior Policy Analyst

Emily Sanderson (she/her)

Senior Coordinator, Grassroots Advocacy

Jessica Bassett (she/her)

Director of Communications

Lotti Rutter (she/her)

Director, International Policy & Advocacy

Maureen Milanga

Director,
International Policy & Advocacy

Mutisya Leonard (he/him)

Director of Development

Naïké Ledan (she/her)

Associate Director, International Policy & Advocacy

Sarabeth Harrelson (she/her)

Managing Director, Finance & Operations
WORK WITH US

 

BOARD

T Richard Corcoran
Board Chair (NYC, USA)
T Richard is the President of Alouette, Inc. based in Brooklyn, NY and was previously on the Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS. In 2020, he stepped in as interim managing director for Health GAP and has gained valuable insight into what he calls “this fierce little organization” and its incredibly smart and dedicated people.

Eustacia Smith
Secretary (NYC, USA)
Staci is Program Director of the Ben Michalski Residence, providing supportive housing for formerly homeless people living with AIDS in NYC. She is a founding member of Health GAP, member of ACT UP NY, and former member of Fed Up Queers.

Aaron Boyle
Treasurer (NYC, USA)
Aaron is the Director of Data and Analytics at the International School of Beijing, member of ACT UP NY, and a former Peace Corps volunteer.

Asia Russell
Kampala, Uganda
Ex-officio, Asia is the Executive Director of Health GAP.

Alice Kayongo
Kampala, Uganda
Alice is a Senior Policy Advisor at WACI Health. She is the founder of We Rise And Prosper (WRAP) a not-for-profit initiative based in Uganda, co-founder of Coalition on Financing for Health, Research and Development (COFHRED), and a Harvard LEAD Fellow. She is a member of the Developing Country NGO Delegation of the Global Fund.

Barbara C. Zeller, MD
NYC, USA
Dr. Barbara Zeller is an HIV specialist and health and human rights activist who is currently the Senior Medical Adviser for Brightpoint Health.  Early on she developed an integrative model of care for people with HIV and substance use disorders, and has provided HIV care both in NYC and in South Africa.

Brook Baker
Boston, MA, USA
Brook is a Professor of Law at Northeastern University, an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu Natal, and Health GAP’s Senior Policy Analyst.

Jennifer Flynn
NYC, USA
Jennifer is the Senior Director of Mobilization and Advocacy at the Center for Popular Democracy. She was a founder of VOCAL-NY and served as Executive Director for 10 years. She also served as Managing Director of Health GAP from 2007-2014.

Rob Weissman
Washington, DC, USA
Rob is the President of Public Citizen. He is the former director of Essential Action and the editor of Multinational Monitor. Rob was previously an attorney with the Center for Responsive Law.

Sharonann Lynch
NYC, USA
Sharonann was an original staff member of Health GAP, the Senior HIV & TB Policy Advisor for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and is now a Senior Scholar at Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Yale Global Health Justice Partnership.