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

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A I D S behavior. Because of the right to special education of the handicapped and the mentally retarded, school boards and higher authorities will have to provide guidelines for the management of such children on a case-by, case basis. Labor and Management Labor and management can do much to prepare for AIDS so that misinformation is kept to a minimum. Unions should issue preventive health messages because many employees will listen more carefully to a union message than they will to one from public health authorities. AIDS Education at the Work Site Offices, factories, and other work sites should have a plan in operation for education of the work force and accom- modation of AIDS or ARC patients before the first such case appears at the work site. Employees with AIDS orARC should be dealt with as are any workers x,dth a chronic illness. In-house video programs provide an excellent source of education and can be individualized to the needs of a specific work group. Strain on the Health Care Delivery System The health care system in many places will be overbur- dened as it is now in urban areas with large numbers of AIDS patients. It is predicted that during 1991 there will be 145,000 patients requiring hospitalization at least once and 54,000 patients who will die of AIDS. Mental disease (dementia) will occur in some patients who have the AIDS virus before the,/have any other manifestation such as ARC or classic AIDS. State and local task ~brces will have to plan for these patients by utilizing conventional and time honored sys- tems but will also have to investigate alternate methods of treatment and alternate sites fur care including homecare. 32 The strain on the health system can be lessened by ?.anily, social, and psychological support mechanisms in the community. Programs are needed to train chaplains, clergy, social workers, and volunteers to deal with AIDS. Such support is particularly critical to the minority communities. Mental Health Our society will also face an additional burden as we bet- ter understand the mentalhealth implications of infec~on by the AIDS virus. Upon being informed of infection with the AIDS virus, a young, active, vigorous person faces anxi. ety and depression brought on by fears associated with social isolation, illness, and dying. Dealing with these indi- vidual and family concerns will require the best efforts of mental health professionals. A number of controversialAiDS issues have arisen and will continue to be debated largely because of lack of knowledge about AIDS, how it is spread, and how it can be prevented. Among these are the issues of compulsory blood testing, quarantine, and identification of AIDS carriers by some visible sign. Compuls~ Blood Testing Compulsory blood testing of individuals is not necessary. The procedure could be unmanageable and cost prohib. itive. It can be expected that many who tegnegatively might actually be positive due to racentexposure to the AIDS virus and give a false sense of security to the individual and his/her sexual partners concerning necessary protec- five behavior. The prevention behavior described in this report, ff adopted, will protect the American public and contain the AIDS epidemic. Voluntary testing will be avail. able to those who have been involved in high risk behavior.