President Clinton Releases First-Ever National AIDS Strategy

12/20/96 FRI 18:57 FAX [phone]

AIDS POLICY

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The National AIDS Strategy sets forth six national goals:
o To develop more effective treatments for people living with flV/AIDS, a
preventive vaccine for the uninfected, and a cure for those who are currently
infected through strong, continuing support for HIV-related research;
o To reduce the number of new HIV infections in adults and children in the U.S.
until the rate of new infections reaches zero by providing strong, continuing
support for effective HIV prevention efforts;
o To ensure that people living with HIV have access to services, from health care to
housing and supportive services, that are affordable, of high quality, and
responsive to their needs;
o To ensure that all people living with HIV are not subject to discrimination;
o To provide strong, continuing support for international efforts to address the HIV
epidemic, and,
o To ensure that research advances are translated into improved HIV prevention
programs and enhanced care for HIV-positive persons.
In each of these target areas, the National AIDS Strategy includes specific
opportunities for progress in the year ahead. These actions are intended to move us
toward the goals emmciated by the President. They include:
PREVENTION
* Targeting vulnerable populations.
The HIV epidemic continues to have a disproportionate impact on certain
populations where infection rates are rising at a rapid pace. Congress has
approved the President's request for an additional $32 million in AIDS prevention
funding specifically for programs targeting such vulnerable populations as
adolescents, women, gay men of color, and substance abusers and their sexual
partners.
* Strengthening community-based programs.
Community prevention planning is one of the key innovations in CDC's
prevention programming. This partnership with local communities puts Federal
funds to work based on locally-designed priorities, This year, CDC will be
providing its partners with additional technical assistance and resources needed to
improve the performance of this vital initiative.

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