October 15, 2007

“AIDS in America” Calls Potential Presidents to Action

Yet another coalition of AIDS organizations is reaching out to presidential candidates to address the issue of HIV/AIDS in the United States. The coalition called “AIDS in America” intends to spark serious discussion regarding issues such as access to care, social services, housing and nutrition.

“One of our overarching concerns is the lack of emphasis on domestic HIV/AIDS in the media, among elected officials and the general public in recent years,” the group says. “While we value the emphasis on our nation’s contributions toward addressing HIV/AIDS in the developing world, we also believe that a focus on the domestic epidemic is critical.”

The coalition includes the Foundation for AIDS Research, the American Academy of HIV Medicine, the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.

Another group of AIDS organizations issued a call to action early last month, just days before Senator John Edwards issued his national strategy to fight HIV/AIDS in the United States, which would include universal access to care for Americans living with HIV. Edwards was the first 2008 presidential candidate to announce a proposal for a domestic AIDS policy.