Kaiser Daily offers this summary of a Washington Post Article The District government improved its performance in battling HIV/AIDS, but the mayor needs to strengthen DC's public awareness campaign to combat the epidemic, according to DC Appleseed's HIV/AIDS in the Nation's Capital (Report Card No. 4: January 2008 to September 2008). Appleseed portrays a government that's just beginning to grapple with the scope of the crisis. It credits the District for making progress in needle exchange programs, expanded testing, and education efforts in schools. The government created a top leadership team at the DC HIV/AIDS Administration and expanded testing programs in city jails.
Appleseed urged Mayor Adrian Fenty to embark on a campaign -- in the African American and Latino faith-based communities -- to reduce the stigma associated with the disease. Most new AIDS cases in DC are found in older people who may have been spreading the disease for years. Appleseed is waiting for new statistics to determine whether past efforts had any impact.
Improvements since the third report card, which was issued in December 2007, include several grade changes: routine HIV testing went from a B-plus to an A-minus, syringe exchange services also went from B-plus to A-minus, substance abuse treatment went from C-plus to B, and AIDS education in DCPS went from D to C.
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