CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A report released this week by the District of Columbia-based Appleseed Center says that although Washington, D.C., has the highest HIV prevalence rate of any U.S. metropolitan area, the city's response to the disease has been inadequate, poorly coordinated, and understaffed, The Washington Post reports. The 170-page report, based on data gathered since early 2004, cites four main problems with the city's response to AIDS:
- City officials are not systematically collecting and analyzing data relating to the epidemic;
- The city is not adequately coordinating or supervising the agencies providing HIV care;
- The District is not doing enough to promote HIV prevention;
- And the city's HIV services are inadequate for certain demographic groups, such as young people, injection-drug users, and prisoners.
The report urges city government and health officials to begin working together more closely to improve HIV surveillance, funding levels, prevention outreach, and treatment programs. It also includes dozens of other recommendations, including establishing an executive-level commission that focuses on fighting HIV in the district, developing a centralized application process for enrollment in publicly funded AIDS programs, encouraging all health care providers in the district to recommend HIV antibody testing to their patients, and expand condom distribution programs.
"Addressing the epidemic must move front and center as a priority of district government," the report says.
D.C. mayor Anthony Williams says he agrees with the report's findings and recommendations and announced he plans to create and lead a city task force to improve the city's HIV prevention, treatment, and support services. District health director Gregg Pane told reporters the health department is already working on implementing some of the report's recommendations.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Kamala Harris rides wave of Democratic energy at kickoff event in Wisconsin
July 23 2024 3:36 PM
'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week
July 23 2024 2:28 PM
Four hours, 44,000 Black women, and one Zoom call
July 23 2024 2:17 PM
Record 1.2 million people show out for Cologne’s Pride parade
July 23 2024 10:51 AM
Here's how far-right activist Leonard Leo helped fund Bud Light boycott
July 23 2024 10:27 AM
Elon Musk’s comments about his trans daughter prove why she doesn’t speak to him
July 23 2024 9:16 AM
Nancy Pelosi endorses Kamala Harris for president
July 22 2024 4:07 PM