The United States Government and HIV/AIDS

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Recommended: Effects of HIV and AIDS on society

AIDS is a disease that has effected and is still affecting the country in many detrimental ways. When first discovered in the country of Africa, the seriousness was unheard of. As the AIDS virus reached the United States, the devastating effects became more obvious. This was the point when the United States government felt that something should be done about the HIV/AIDS virus.
According to the Office of AIDS research, AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a serious illness that originates as HIV. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. AIDS can take anywhere between seven and ten years to develop after being diagnosed with HIV. The AIDS virus damages the immune system, the part of the body that fights off infection. Over year AIDS will cause that immune system to become very weak. Eventually the individual with the AIDS virus will become very sick, and most often die. It is important that individuals with the AIDS virus take very good care of themselves. It is also important that they receive the support and care they need and deserve.
In 1986 the Government realized the seriousness of the AIDS virus and elected to take a series of important measures to tackle the epidemic, and also to offer help and support to those in need who are fighting this tragic disease. By this time AIDS had already attained epidemic proportion in the African region and was spreading rapidly in many countries worldwide (www.naco.nic.in). The Government of the United States realized this, and without wasting anytime began the initial steps to help individuals with the AIDS virus. By 1986 a high-powered National AIDS committee was formed. Then in 1987 the National AIDS Control Program was launched.
The purpose of the National AIDS Committee was to formulate a strategy and plan for the implementation of prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the United States. In the initial years of the committee, the focus was based in public awareness. The individuals on the committee also introduced blood screening for people with HIV/AIDS.
In the year 1989, a medium term plan was developed using a ten million dollar budget by the United States. These ten million dollars went to awareness programs, blood safety measures, control of hospital infection, and condom promotion to help prevent HIV/AIDS. Due to these procedures in 1992 clinical services strengthened in both the HIV and AIDS areas.
Soon after these developments, the committee also began strengthening management of HIV/AIDS at the state level.

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