Agenda - Council - 05/28/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A I D A I D S Look to the Future The Chaldenge of the Future An enormous challenge to public health lies ahead of us and we would do well to take a look at the future. We must be prepared to manage those things we can pre- dict, as well as those we cannot. At the present time there is no vaccine to prevent.aiDS. There is no cure. AIDS, which can be transmitted sexually and by sharing needles and syringes among illidt intrave. nous drug users, is bound to produce profound changes in our society, changes that will affect us all Information and Education Only Weapons Against AlDS It is estimated that in 1991 54,000 people wili die from ADS. At this moment, many of them are not infected with the AIDS virus. With proper information and education, as many as 12,000 to 14,000 people could be saved in 1991 from death byAiDS. ALDS will Impact All The changes in our society will be economic and political and will affect our soda] institutions, our educational prac- tices, and our health care. Although AIDS may never touch you personally, the societal impact certainly will Be Educated- Be Prepared Be prepared. Learn as much about AIDS asyou can. Learn to separate scientific information from rumor and myth. The Public Health Service, your local public health ot~iciais and your fimily physician will be able to help you. 28 Concern About Spread oJ',-L;DS While the concentration of AIDS cases is in the larger urban areas today, it has been found in every state and with the mobility of our society, it is likely that cases of AIDS will appear far and wide. Special Educational Concerns There are a number of people, primarily adolescents, that do not yet know they will be homosexual or become drug abusers and will not heed this message; there are others who are illiterate and cannot heed this message. They must be reached and taught the risk behaviors that expose them to infection with the AIDS virus. High Risk Get Blood Test The greatest public health problem lies in the large num- ber of individuals with a history of high risk behavior who have been infected with and may be spreading the AIDS virus. Those with high risk behavior must be encouraged to protect otheas by adopting safe sexual practices and by the use of dean equipment for intravenous drug use. If a blood test for antibodies to the AIDS virus is necessary to get these individuals to use safe sexual practices, they should get a blood test. Call your local health deparunent for information on where to get the test. Anger and Guilt Some people afflicted with AIDS will feel a sense of anger and others a sense of guilt. In spite of these understand- able reactions, everyone must join the effort to control the epidemic, to provide for the care of those with AIDS, and to do all we can to inform and educate others about AIDS, and how to prevent it.