The United States AIDS Policy
The U.S. has a HIV Prevention Policy that includes a Federal Budget Process and HIV Funding, Federal House
Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee's, Vaccine Development programs. There are governmental
organizations that are set up to study ways of preventing the spread of HIV such as the International Organization
for Migration that stands up for the rights of HIV infected
persons in the transportation
industry.
There are Federally funded Grants, and the Presidential AIDS Council and the Federal organization - Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These organization and programs are all set up to protect the citizens of the
United States including those citizens whom have already been infected with the HIV/AIDS.
There are quite a few U.S. AIDS Programs. One of them is the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) it was
established for the purpose of aiding those who have HIV/AIDS so that persons who may not otherwise be able to
afford to have the necessary drugs to combat these illnesses can have access to them. This is a state-by-state
program.
To help better understand the role of the Federal Government in the HIV/AIDS issue you can visit several
Websites online:
CARE Act is a Website that contains both information and tools for Ryan White Grant recipients and others who
proved programs. It is a Website maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act (CARE) is a Federal legislation that has the purpose
of meeting the health needs of persons living with HIV disease by way of funding primary health care and other
support services. It was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990 and amended twice since then.
This Act cares for 500,000 individuals each year, which makes it the largest Federally, funded program that is
specifically set up to help people who are living with the HIV virus. This program is for those who are either
underserved by healthcare programs or are impoverished and do not have healthcare programs.. It also includes
persons on Medicaid and those on private insurance who are not getting their needs met.
President Bush has been scrutinized by Federal Budget experts as not meeting the needs of the HIV/AIDS public.
His AIDS programs are described as being flat-funded for domestic HIV/AIDS programs and global funding is well
below projected needs as well. Inflation and rising caseloads has impacted the governments programs effectiveness
even more by a decline in federally funded domestic HIV/AIDS programs as per the report by the GMHC Public Policy
Department dated November/December 2004.
Did You Know?
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In today’s enlightened world we know that AIDS is spread through direct contact
with body fluids of people who have been infected with HIV. You can get AIDS from practicing unsafe
sex, from having multiple sexual partners, or born to or breast-fed from an HIV-positive woman.
It is rare for someone to get AIDS by having a contaminated organ donation or from
contact with unsanitary dental equipment. You can be infected by sharing contaminated needles with
other drug users, having sexually transmitted diseases or by having a contaminated blood
transfusion before 1985.
The AIDS virus can go undetected for over ten years but it is destroying the immune
system without your knowledge. Remember to be safe! You can get AIDS by both homosexual and
heterosexual sexual activity. Take precautions with all of your sexual partners. If you are a
member of the medical profession, take extra precautions to not touch a patient’s bodily
fluids.
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If you are curious about what U.S. Legislature is being currently worked on or if you wish to be informed on the
U.S. policies concerning HIV/AIDS you can visit the Congress.org Website. Another legislative Website is the
official Website of the U.S. Library of Congress site at www.thomas.loc.gov/ It is important that all citizens who care about the HIV/AIDS
federally funded programs and legislature take action by contacting their governmental representatives in the House
of Representatives and in the Senate by writing to them and expressing your concerns.
There are many "Calls to Action" programs that you can take part in including:
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
AIDS Walks around the country
AIDSWatch Advocacy Event
AIDS Candlelight Memorial
Keep up with the news about the AIDS Memorial Quilt
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AIDS Facts
Unprotected sex is the number one reason why people get HIV and Aids.
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Become involved in Medicine Recycling Programs such as: The Starfish Project. This programs takes
unused medications from patients in the United States, takes off the labels and sends the medications to Nigeria to
be used by patients there who might not otherwise have these medications available to them. You can find out more
information about the project here: www.thestarfishproject.org/
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