HIV/AIDS Organizations Call on Presidential Candidates To Develop National AIDS Strategies
"Call to Action," Nationalaidsstrategy.org: More than 100 HIV/AIDS organizations have issued a "Call to Action" statement to all presidential candidates asking them to develop results-oriented, national HIV/AIDS strategies. According to the statement, an effective national AIDS strategy should:
- Strengthen prevention and treatment results through use of evidence-based programs;
- Establish prevention and treatment targets and require annual progress reports;
- Define priorities for action in federal agencies and assign tasks and timelines;
- Include the prevention and treatment needs of minorities and high-risk groups as a main focus;
- Address social elements that increase susceptibility to HIV;
- Encourage more HIV prevention and treatment research; and
- Involve multiple sectors -- including government, business, civil rights groups, faith-based organizations, researchers and HIV-positive people -- in developing the strategy (Nationalaidsstrategy.org, 9/17).