Washington, D.C. -
The Obama administration will unveil the nation's first-ever comprehensive AIDS strategy on Tuesday, the New York Times reported.
The report will outline a strategy for combating the AIDS epidemic domestically that includes reducing the number of new infections and boosting the number of people who receive treatment.
Within the next five years, the administration aims to slash the number of new HIV infections by 25 percent and increase by 20 percent the number of HIV-positive people receiving treatment within 3 months of their diagnosis, up from the current 65 percent.
Not included in the plan is additional federal spending. Administration officials, instead, will reshuffle its $19 billion AIDS budget and funnel money to the disease's highest at-risk groups, which include gay and bisexual men and African-Americans.
The strategy will focus on doing a better job at matching resources with needs. For example, the report suggests allocating more money to states with the highest "burden of disease" and placing a greater emphasis on groups with the highest risk of contracting the disease – men who have sex with men and African-Americans.
Calling the stigma associated with the disease "extremely high," the government also promised to strengthen protections for HIV-positive people.
AIDS activists have criticized previous administrations for not outlining a comprehensive strategy for combating the epidemic domestically. Work on the national AIDS strategy began at the start of the administration.
The report will outline a strategy for combating the AIDS epidemic domestically that includes reducing the number of new infections and boosting the number of people who receive treatment.
Within the next five years, the administration aims to slash the number of new HIV infections by 25 percent and increase by 20 percent the number of HIV-positive people receiving treatment within 3 months of their diagnosis, up from the current 65 percent.
Not included in the plan is additional federal spending. Administration officials, instead, will reshuffle its $19 billion AIDS budget and funnel money to the disease's highest at-risk groups, which include gay and bisexual men and African-Americans.
The strategy will focus on doing a better job at matching resources with needs. For example, the report suggests allocating more money to states with the highest "burden of disease" and placing a greater emphasis on groups with the highest risk of contracting the disease – men who have sex with men and African-Americans.
Calling the stigma associated with the disease "extremely high," the government also promised to strengthen protections for HIV-positive people.
AIDS activists have criticized previous administrations for not outlining a comprehensive strategy for combating the epidemic domestically. Work on the national AIDS strategy began at the start of the administration.
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine
