Bills Will Fill Gaps in Public and Professional Knowledge of Epidemic
Washington, D.C. – Today, Councilmember David A. Catania (At-Large) chaired a markup by the Committee on Health of two measures to expand education and awareness of HIV/AIDS in the District. The two bills, the “HIV/AIDS Continuing Education Requirements Amendment Act of 2012” and the “Senior HIV/AIDS Education and Outreach Program Establishment Act of 2012”, will fill gaps in public and professional knowledge of the epidemic and compliment existing programs to fight the killer disease.
“Taken together these bills will continue to put the District at the forefront of combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” said Councilmember Catania. “Over the past several years, the District has made tremendous strides in both the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS. Social marketing campaigns, condom distribution efforts and other outreach programs have contributed significantly to the 28% reduction in new HIV/AIDS cases that the District experienced between 2008 and 2009.”
The “HIV/AIDS Continuing Education Requirements Amendment Act of 2012” would provide District physicians, physician assistants, and nurses with an understanding of the impact of HIV and AIDS on populations of different ages, as well as different racial and ethnic backgrounds by incorporating HIV/AIDS education into existing continuing education requirements. The legislation would improve the ability of health professionals to discuss HIV/AIDS with their patients and would break down barriers to care. Greater dialogue regarding HIV/AIDS between medical professionals and their patients can increase HIV/AIDS testing helping to prevent new infections and connecting positive-testing individuals with care faster.
The “Senior HIV/AIDS Education and Outreach Program Establishment Act of 2012” creates a peer-to-peer HIV/AIDS educational outreach program for seniors within the Department of Health. These senior peer educators would provide presentations and conduct workshops in senior centers, nursing and retirement homes, before civic and social groups, and at religious centers. A study by the U.S. Administration on Aging revealed that only about a third of older men and just a fifth of older woman surveyed had discussed sex with a doctor since the age of 50. Additionally, the symptoms of HIV/AIDS for older adults frequently mirror the aches and pains of the normal aging process. Today’s legislation creates a formal structure in the District for the provision of current and uniform HIV/AIDS education to senior citizens. The legislation compliments existing efforts to expand the reach of the District’s HIV/AIDS response to encompass older residents.
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