“And the Band Played On”

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nThe movie “And the Band Played On 1993” by Spottiswoode Roger display the public health concern. The film explores the reactions to and effects of HIV/AIDS pandemic presented widely from the viewpoint of the Centers for Disease Control (USA). It is based on the historical conditions relating to emergence of the pandemic (YouTube, 2017). Moreover, it deals with a variety of public health concerns through new information to the disease. There are also details on the outbreak of Ebola Fever in African countries such as Congo (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012). The movie played a pivotal part in creating awareness among the American society on AIDS. In addition, it helped to transform the peoples thinking and stereotype that suggested that the disease only infected gay persons. The film demonstrates that before HIV was given a name, it was associated to homosexual men. In early 1980s, gay people were found to possess the symptoms such as decline in the number of t-cells in the body (YouTube, 2017). The t-cells form an important component of immune system in the human body and are responsible of protecting the body against infection and disease.

nValues, Special Interests and Stereotypes

nValues, special interests and stereotypes affect the development of policy and resources available to deal with the spread of AIDS. For instance, the movie describes how these factors affected the policies towards the pandemic (Smit, et al, 2012). It illustrates the initial effects of Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) on the homosexual population in the country. Activists and support groups launched a national campaign, speaking and marching with an aim of soliciting help and care (Wolitski & Fenton, 2011). However, the gay community is unable to receive any kind of care because of stereotypes associated with the disease. Many people in American society hence they lacked in close relationships rejected homosexuality (YouTube, 2017). Moreover, stereotypes concerning this disease are facilitated to the moral ethics and religious beliefs.

nTherefore, the problem as preferably left unresolved by the society. Furthermore, there are no policies to address HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country. The outbreak was commonly referred to as “Gay Pneumonia” or “Gay Cancer” while the media was describing it as nothing (Smit, et al, 2012). The stereotypes become more abusive and heavier towards the homosexual persons. Because of lack of medical name of the outbreak, the media common refer it as the GRID disease standing for Gay Related Immunodeficiency, which reinforce the stereotypes in the community rather than decreasing them (YouTube, 2017). However, in 1983, the legislators passed a motion, which reformed the name to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) from GRID. The main policy makers in the American society such as politicians have declined to face the matter as well (Wolitski & Fenton, 2011). Persons suffering from HIV/AIDS had a problem because they could not access the medical care because the policy makers had even refused to engage in the discussion of new outbreak. More importantly, the disease is causing a death rate of close to 100 percent with the most affected persons being gay population (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012). The bureaucrats are in constant battles with the doctors and politicians while the infected individuals suffer from the pandemic on their own with no assistance and support to resolve the problem.

nAIDS Policy

nOne of the actors suggests, “Common sense, however, rarely carried much weight in regard to IDS policy”. This meant that medical information and facts were not used in making decision and policy formulation in the fight against the disease. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was tasked with the role of monitoring and recording all kinds of transmittable disease in the country (Smit, et al, 2012). However, the government did not follow its advices and recommendations. The views of medical experts were ignoring by the government in the developing measures to deal with the mounting crisis. The movie demonstrated how CDC experts were starved of financial resources meant for studying the disease on several occasions (YouTube, 2017). The epidemiologists expressed their reservations and frustration due to lack of interest from the government. There were occurrences where the CDC was engaged in internal conflicts because on the kind of attention and time being invested to deal with HIV/AIDS (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012).

nAt the time, Reagan administration did not provide adequate resources to relevant institutions that could assist in dealing with the pandemic. The epidemic only received a small fraction of the total funds in the public health (Smit, et al, 2012). Furthermore, the issues raised by the CDC that could assist in dealing with the problem were highly embattled and politicized. Despite killing hundreds of people in the 1980s, the government compared HIV/AIDS with Legionnaire illness in the 1970s (YouTube, 2017). Therefore, it did not pay more attention to deal with the problem. Therefore, the causes and spread mechanism of the disease remain unclear to the Americans. In addition, people did not know what to do in order to control the spread of HIV such as having safe sex. The government was unwilling to implement recommendations provided by the institutions such as provision of education and sex awareness among the people (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012). In addition, the termination of gay bathhouses in major towns such as San Francisco turned out to be a political debate in homosexual communities. Activists demanded the public health institutions in the country to release information to the public on the routes of transmission of the disease but this was rejected (Wolitski & Fenton, 2011). Consequently, this affected the AIDS policy because the government was reluctant to formulate and execute it.

nGaetan Dugas

nGaetan Dugas was character in the movie whose behaviors caused widespread infection of HIV/AIDS. He was famously referred to as ‘patient zero. Dugas was responsible of infecting more than 40 people of the initial 248 AIDs cases reported to the authorities in the country (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012). Moreover, he was informed of his capacity to transmit the disease to other people. However, he disregarded the advice and rebelliously continued to engage in unprotected sexual activities. The film suggested that Dugas was the first person to introduce the disease in the United States and Canada (Wolitski & Fenton, 2011). He was a homosexual individual working as an attendant in the Air Canada Company. His behavior facilitated the spread of the disease across the US. More importantly, his behavior raised major legal and ethical issues in the fight against the disease (YouTube, 2017). For instance, he defiantly refused to adhere to the advices of public health experts, which could have prevented the spread of the disease to unprotected individuals.

nEthical issues in the fight against AIDS demand that a HIV positive individual must disclosure his status or use protective mechanisms in the sexual intercourse. Legally, a person such as Dugus has a responsibility of revealing that he have a sexually, stigmatized and life-threatening illness to his/her partners. Moreover, reckless or intentional infection of a person with HIV is describes as unethical or criminal (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012). In this regard, Dugas could have followed the advices of health experts to use protection during sexual intercourse in order to prevent the spread of the virus in the US and Canada (Smit, et al, 2012).

nGovernments Response to Aids

nIf it was known then what it is known now, the government could have introduced a number of measures in order to respond to AIDS. Some of actions that could have been taken include development of health education, campaigns and advertising, ensuring quality in deterrence and initiating special drugs to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In so doing, the AIDS policies could have played a major part in prevention of the transmission not only among the gay community but also among the heterosexual families (Wolitski & Fenton, 2011). First, health education could have been important in creating awareness among people on the causes and modes of transmission of the disease. This strategy does not need any object or drug to succeed in informing the people, but instead need people to shift their personality traits aiming to acquire protection from the disease (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012). The health education also encourages safe sex especially by using condoms, sexual abstinence and gay sex education.

nSecondly, the government could have initiated campaigns and advertising. Through application of persuasive message, heath experts could have educated individuals on the risks of the disease. In addition, it could have assisted in increasing the knowledge of AIDS among people, which could have eliminated stereotypes associated with the disease (Smit, et al, 2012). More significantly, information passed through these campaigns could have helped in enhancing more preferable intentions and attitudes towards prevention of HIV. Thirdly, the US government could have allocated huge amount of resources in order to help in medical research. For instance, by engaging CDC experts, the government could have identified the etiology, natural history, signs and symptoms, control mechanism and prevention approaches of the disease. It also helps to design measure to increase quality of HIV/AIDS prevention (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012).

nSocial Work Services

nThe events detailed in this movie continue to affect the delivery of social work services to those who are HIV infected. For instance, in the contemporary society the gay population continues to face challenges in regard to access of HIV/AIDS services due to constant stigma, violence and discrimination (YouTube, 2017). In most cases, these people experience poor mental and physical health results relative to their heterosexual counterparts. Research has indicated that these groups of people have the high prevalence rate of the disease because they cannot access the health services (Wolitski & Fenton, 2011). In this case, gay population account for more than 65 percent of all new infections of HIV across the world. In addition, they lack adequate information on how to prevent the spread of the disease. Due to these challenges, the population encounters numerous hurdles when pursuing services such as health insurance cover (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012). Additionally, most of the health providers are reluctant to offer quality care to these groups of people. Similarly, homosexual individuals who are infected with HIV/AIDS are more likely to be uninsured because of lack of adequate finances. Furthermore, gaps in the delivery of health care services forces these people to be denied or left out from coverage (Smit, et al, 2012).

nHowever, this challenge can be resolved by introducing non-discriminatory insurance and protections reforms to members of gay and LGBT community. This would help in facilitating access to beneficial health services such as insurance. The agency would also encourage delivery of services that meets the needs of gay population (Smit, et al, 2012). The government should also promote patient-provider interaction in order to avoid and eliminate discrimination, stigma and fear.

nPersonal Position

nPersonally, I think the problem of HIV/AIDS can be eliminated through concerted efforts among different stakeholders. In the current century, measures to deal with new infections of the disease should be geared towards raising awareness and encouraging safe sex (YouTube, 2017). Since unprotected sexual intercourse remains the main transmission of the virus, it is essential to encourage the use of condoms among men (Smit, et al, 2012). On the other hand, latex female condoms can be used by women to assist in control of infection. The HIV/AIDS policy should also focus on encouraging vaccination, prevention of HIV infection from Mother-to-child, and programs on early HIV interventions on infected individuals such as antiretroviral drugs (Wolitski & Fenton, 2011).

nStrategies and Tactics to Advance the Policy in the Bahamas

nThe Bahamas needs to prevent rising cases of new infections of HIV/AIDS. However, this requires effective strategies and tactics by guaranteeing timely engagement and diagnosis in treatment and care for persons living with the disease (Smit, et al, 2012). In this regard, the first strategy would encompass establishment of HIV diagnostic checks and tests in the Bahamas. Moreover, I would strengthen HIV efforts in prevention of the disease among communities that have high prevalence of the disease. Similarly, I would assign adequate funds in order to facilitate research for effective control measures (Varni, Miller, McCuin & Solomon, 2012). The second strategy would involve expansion of efforts to control infection of HIV utilizing a combination of scientific, evidence-based and effective approaches. This would involve designing inventive prevention approaches and strategies for controlling spread of HIV amongst at risk communities (Smit, et al, 2012). Finally, it would characterize prioritization, education and development of communities living the disease in order to avoid more transmission.

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nReferences

nSmit, P. J., Brady, M., Carter, M., Fernandes, R., Lamore, L., Meulbroek, M., … & Thompson, M. (2012). HIV-related stigma within communities of gay men: a literature review. AIDS care, 24(4), 405-412.

nVarni, S. E., Miller, C. T., McCuin, T., & Solomon, S. (2012). Disengagement and engagement coping with HIV/AIDS stigma and psychological well-being of people with HIV/AIDS. Journal of social and clinical psychology, 31(2), 123-150.

nWolitski, R. J., & Fenton, K. A. (2011). Sexual health, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in the United States. AIDS and Behavior, 15(1), 9-17.

nYouTube,. (2017). And The Band Played On 1993. YouTube. Retrieved 15 March 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua5RrxvfVJU