i'm not going to get into a political discussion here because i know that the election of president barack obama is met with mixed emotions here in america. however, i do applaud the white house administration for lifting a 22 year ban on hiv-positive travellers to the united states this past weekend. this ban was put in place based on fear rather than fact; little was known about hiv in 1987 and it was believed that it could be transmitted through breathing or simply touching someone who was positive. as we have learned over the years, it takes a lot more than that.
as obama said while signing the bill, "if the united states is going to be a leader in the fight against hiv and aids, we need to act like it." i'd say this is a huge first step in that direction.
also, president obama signed legislation renewing the ryan white care act, a federal law that authorizes the primary source of funding for aids care and services nationwide. the updated care act places a stronger emphasis on testing, calling for 5 million hiv tests to be performed annually. of the 1.2 million people in the united states who are living with hiv/aids, approximately 1/4 of them don't even realize they are affected. this renewed bill should go a long way in stepping up testing to help address the problem of people unaware of their hiv status before they unknowingly pass on their infection to others.
this is a good move by the united states and my prayer is that we continue to do our part to help end this worldwide pandemic!
sobonana...
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