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HIV/AIDS Efforts |
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Compiled By GayToday
HRC followed this realization with a call on the Bush administration to quickly clarify where it stands and to specifically state whether it plans to cut our nation's HIV/AIDS efforts at a time when the global epidemic is spiraling out of control. "We need more leadership--not less--and the Bush administration must rally, not retreat from its duty to aggressively tackle the AIDS crises in America and abroad," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. "We hope the administration will fully articulate its plans for the Office of National AIDS Policy. "We believe it is crucial for Bush to have a strong position in place, such as the Director of ONAP, to provide the necessary leadership, have direct access to the president, and posses the strong authority to coordinate efforts between various agencies." Yesterday's whirlwind of events occurred after White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card "mistakenly" told USA Today that the Office of National AIDS Policy and the office on race relations at the White House would be eliminated. The administration quickly retreated, but as details of Bush's strategy begin to emerge, it appears the administration may be scaling back our nation's HIV/AIDS efforts at a time when an even greater response is needed. "The Department of Health and Human Services will be detailing people to the White House," said White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer in press briefings Wednesday. "In addition, on our Domestic Policy Council we will have a White House employee who is dedicated to fighting AIDS and developing policies that can help us to fight AIDS. There is also a task force in place that will remain in place that also is concerned with the battle against AIDS. That will be the entities within the White House that are dedicated to that cause."
Additionally, it appears the administration may cut the number of employees from the Health and Human Services department detailed to work on this issue. The need for a concerted effort was underscored by a seven-city study released this week of HIV infection rates among young gay men. According to the study, nearly 30 percent of young gay African- Americans, 15 percent of gay Hispanics, 7 percent of gay non-Hispanic whites and 3 percent of gay Asian- Americans, are infected with the virus. Over all, the study found that 12.3 percent of gay and bisexual men from 23 to 29 were infected with H.I.V. "At a time when statistics show AIDS is ravishing the African-American community, the Bush administration needs to show this issue is a priority," said Stachelberg. "One way to do this is by meeting with leading HIV/AIDS advocates to hear our concerns before making hasty decisions that might hinder efforts to combat the disease." |
White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card told USA Today that the Office of National AIDS Policy would be eliminated, though administration sources now deny that will happen 