Comments on: It’s World AIDS Day http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:12:24 +0000 hourly 1 By: Read-ems from the last week or so « I am the Lizard Queen! http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214705 Read-ems from the last week or so « I am the Lizard Queen! Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:53:31 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214705 [...] World AIDS Day: It’s World AIDS Day by Jill at Feministe and I Have No Words by Jay at Two Women [...] [...] World AIDS Day: It’s World AIDS Day by Jill at Feministe and I Have No Words by Jay at Two Women [...]

]]> By: Xay http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214564 Xay Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:24:45 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214564 If you look at the CDC approved interventions for HIV/AIDS, you will notice that they all focus on personal responsibility. The interventions targeted at high risk populations emphasize knowing your status and making good partner choices. The interventions for HIV positive individuals focus on living with the disease, learning how to disclose to your partners and loved ones and how to prevent transmitting the disease. Also, I think that mandatory testing would help in terms of understanding the scope of the disease. The reason why the rate of infection is staying so level is in part because of the increased availability of testing and the improved testing technology. CDC has to revise its estimates regarding total cases and new infections because the old estimates were based on incomplete data. I work in a state HIV/AIDS program (in the hepatitis division) and the way that domestic funding for HIV/AIDS has been handled is a disgrace. Bush did not make more funding available for HIV/AIDS - the funding has been level for the last 3 years which, due to inflation, is the same thing as a cut. The most recent reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act placed such restrictions on the way funds are allocated and spent that when combined with the delayed release of funds, made it extremely difficult to maintain continuity of services. But the sad thing is that in terms of morality and legislation on public health issues, HIV/AIDS is just the tip of the iceberg. If you look at the CDC approved interventions for HIV/AIDS, you will notice that they all focus on personal responsibility. The interventions targeted at high risk populations emphasize knowing your status and making good partner choices. The interventions for HIV positive individuals focus on living with the disease, learning how to disclose to your partners and loved ones and how to prevent transmitting the disease.

Also, I think that mandatory testing would help in terms of understanding the scope of the disease. The reason why the rate of infection is staying so level is in part because of the increased availability of testing and the improved testing technology. CDC has to revise its estimates regarding total cases and new infections because the old estimates were based on incomplete data.

I work in a state HIV/AIDS program (in the hepatitis division) and the way that domestic funding for HIV/AIDS has been handled is a disgrace. Bush did not make more funding available for HIV/AIDS – the funding has been level for the last 3 years which, due to inflation, is the same thing as a cut. The most recent reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act placed such restrictions on the way funds are allocated and spent that when combined with the delayed release of funds, made it extremely difficult to maintain continuity of services.

But the sad thing is that in terms of morality and legislation on public health issues, HIV/AIDS is just the tip of the iceberg.

]]> By: Vicky http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214488 Vicky Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:50:19 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214488 How about prevention in the form of personal responsibility? Like self-control: abstinence until a monogamous relationship til death do you part! We promote personal responsibility for smoking in public because studies clearly show smoking leads to lung cancer, heart disease and other problems. We now have laws about smoking in public places and public campaigns against smoking and to help people quit like National Quit Smoking day. How about a Quit Sleeping Around People campaign? We know AIDS and other STDs are spread through sex (mostly) so why not speak out about personal responsibility in this area? I don't like it that my tax dollars go to fund programs for people who are sick just because of a lack of self control. And it isn't right that innocent children are born with AIDS because of irresponsibility. Why doesn't anyone take a stand and campaign for responsibilty and intelligence in this area? How about prevention in the form of personal responsibility? Like self-control: abstinence until a monogamous relationship til death do you part! We promote personal responsibility for smoking in public because studies clearly show smoking leads to lung cancer, heart disease and other problems. We now have laws about smoking in public places and public campaigns against smoking and to help people quit like National Quit Smoking day. How about a Quit Sleeping Around People campaign? We know AIDS and other STDs are spread through sex (mostly) so why not speak out about personal responsibility in this area? I don’t like it that my tax dollars go to fund programs for people who are sick just because of a lack of self control. And it isn’t right that innocent children are born with AIDS because of irresponsibility. Why doesn’t anyone take a stand and campaign for responsibilty and intelligence in this area?

]]> By: Jill http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214292 Jill Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:17:35 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214292 Actually, George Bush has <i>pledged</i> a lot of money to AIDS relief. How much we've actually <i>spent</i> is a different matter. But that said, yes, he did good work in pledging large amounts of U.S. funding to fighting HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately a lot of the money has ideological strings attached. Hopefully that will change with a new administration. Actually, George Bush has pledged a lot of money to AIDS relief. How much we’ve actually spent is a different matter.

But that said, yes, he did good work in pledging large amounts of U.S. funding to fighting HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately a lot of the money has ideological strings attached. Hopefully that will change with a new administration.

]]> By: class factotum http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214291 class factotum Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:15:22 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214291 Hasn't George Bush spent a lot of money on AIDS? Yes, some people might believe AIDS is not an issue for everyone, but Bush has dedicated money to fighting the problem in Africa. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/01/world.aids.day/index.html Hasn’t George Bush spent a lot of money on AIDS? Yes, some people might believe AIDS is not an issue for everyone, but Bush has dedicated money to fighting the problem in Africa. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/01/world.aids.day/index.html

]]> By: keshmeshi http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214218 keshmeshi Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:06:09 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214218 $10 billion a year is chickenfeed to the federal government. Seriously. $10 billion a year is chickenfeed to the federal government. Seriously.

]]> By: Lyndsay http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214207 Lyndsay Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:50:56 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214207 Good. Whatever money we're putting in now seems to just be keeping infection rates constant. $50 billion over 5 years spent efficiently could actually do something right? Then less money would be required after that. Good. Whatever money we’re putting in now seems to just be keeping infection rates constant. $50 billion over 5 years spent efficiently could actually do something right? Then less money would be required after that.

]]> By: Jill http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214151 Jill Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:18:11 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214151 OMG FROM YOUR TAX DOLLARS!!! OMG FROM YOUR TAX DOLLARS!!!

]]> By: Zelie http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214150 Zelie Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:16:45 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214150 and the $50 billion will come from where exactly? and the $50 billion will come from where exactly?

]]> By: victoria http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/01/its-world-aids-day/#comment-214147 victoria Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:12:46 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9943#comment-214147 I ask folks to PLEASE not fall for the Starbucks and other (RED) campaigns that tell us to shop in order to fight AIDS. Instead of buying a latte and having a measly $00.05 donated, go instead to the Global Fund and donate $5.00 (or more). http://www.theglobalfund.org/ See also: http://buylesscrap.org/ I ask folks to PLEASE not fall for the Starbucks and other (RED) campaigns that tell us to shop in order to fight AIDS. Instead of buying a latte and having a measly $00.05 donated, go instead to the Global Fund and donate $5.00 (or more).

http://www.theglobalfund.org/

See also:
http://buylesscrap.org/

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