September 23, 2008

Will Renewed Interest in U.S. HIV/AIDS Inspire Action?

An analysis of increased attention from politicians on domestic HIV/AIDS was published by the National Journal on September 20. The weekly political magazine covered the heightened interest following the release of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report placing U.S. HIV incidence 40 percent higher than previously estimated.

After the new CDC data was released in early August, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain each issued statements on the findings, pledging to bolster efforts to treat and prevent domestic HIV/AIDS if elected president.

The Journal reports, however, that it remains unclear whether this renewed interest in HIV/AIDS in the United States will inspire action. While the CDC laid some groundwork for a national AIDS strategy in 2001—which aimed to reduce the number of new HIV infections by 50 percent in four years—it was never fully implemented. The agency has since extended that initial plan through 2010, with a focus on better addressing infection among African Americans and men who have sex with men.

According to advocates, such as HIV/AIDS consultant Chris Collins, one of the main barriers to implementing a national AIDS strategy has been the lack of effective communication between local and federal initiatives.

“We've got disparate efforts scattered around the country and no one in charge of bringing the various efforts together,” Collins told the Journal.

Search: CDC, Barack Obama, John McCain, national AIDS strategy

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments: