Advocacy Activity - Report Example

Advocacy Activity “Twentieth-century America is well known for being a highly litigious society. Even so, there had never been a disease that provoked as much litigation as HIV/ AIDS” Gostin, 2004: 4 Introduction: Individuals and communities today face a growing need to assess the outcomes of their endeavors to bring about a significant change in the society. In order to succeed in this task, documenting the changes taking place in terms of legislations and policies, as a tool of social change is hence inevitable. Policy change is one of the greatest foundations, and a highly recommended approach to address the unique challenges faced by the society. The rapidly changing dynamics of the political environment around us clearly highlight the significance of the administration as a professionalizing agent in the field of political science (Furner, 2010). This paper aims to outline an approach to evaluate policy change by highlighting key priorities beginning from a brief overview of the chosen legislation, the significance and scope of the issue, the broad implications of the legislation, as well as an in-depth account of the elected official followed by an explanation of the entire process starting from the basic reasons behind the choice of the elected official an overview of the key points of discussion, to be carried out during the personal interview. Summary of the legislation: The key to addressing and resolving various social issues faced by the society lies in the determination of the social reformers and their relentless pursuit to create a more humane society by engaging in policy advocacy (Jansson, 2010). HIV AIDS is one such critical problem faced by the United States. With a total of 1.2 million Americans living with HIV (CDC, 2012), and one in five people are unaware of their infection (Aids.gov, 2012) it is identified as a serious public health concern thus indicating an urgent need to eradicate it through effective policy changes. This section discusses the Cure for AIDS Act 2012, introduced by Representative James Himes in the House, and is aimed at finding an effective cure for the epidemic and makes it accessible in the United States as well as globally. It proposes to establish a research program under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program of the Department of Defense to accomplish its goal (Govtrack.us). The program is proposed to be headed by the Secretary of Defense in collaboration with the Director of National Institutes of Health; the Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and any head of a Federal agency as deemed appropriate by the Secretary. The program aims to develop a cure for HIV/AIDS through extensive research programs, aimed at addressing the fundamental issues such as the key causes behind the persistence of the disease despite the use of various therapies; and developing and identifying various testing interventions to control the spread of any further spread of the disease, among others. The program also seeks to gain assistance from Non-profit entities in terms of co-ordination and sharing of responsibilities through partnership and provision of peer-reviewed funded research. The key objective of this bill is to ensure an effective cure for HIV/AIDS by supporting and encouraging innovative research. The conviction to find a cure has been strengthened further after the recent case of Timothy Brown, the first person ever to be cured of the incurable disease (CBS News, 2012), thus providing a renewed hope to the medical practitioners, researchers and policy makers to revive and accelerate their efforts towards working and campaigning for the just cause. Significance and scope of the issue: HIV/ AIDS is a global epidemic affecting 34 million people worldwide, and claiming 1.8 million lives as of 2010 (WHO, 2012). According to available statistics the situation is equally grave for high-income developed countries as well including the United States. Over 1.2 million people in the United States were estimated to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS (CDC, 2012). The epidemic is spreading rapidly across the country which is evident from the fact that every 9.5 minutes someone in the United States is infected by HIV (AIDS.gov, 2012). The spread of the disease coupled with the fact that it is so far incurable, further aggravates the problem since it results in serious negative social, economic and psychological repercussions. The costs of medication and available treatment and the psychological toll on the carers is staggering. Furthermore the treatment process is long and cumbersome, thus adding to the woes of the carers (Stone, Ojikutu, Rawlings and Smith, 2009). The people affected by the disease are hence prone to suffer from financial and economic setbacks. The situation is even worse for the poor and minority populations since it causes impoverishment and strain on the individuals as well as their households (Bloom and Canning, 2003). The family relationships and dynamics also changes significantly and hampers the ability of the sick parents to care for their children (Stone, Ojikutu, Rawlings and Smith, 2009). The epidemic not only affects the health of the individuals but also pushes them into a vicious cycle of poverty and gender inequality, as studies suggest that women are relatively vulnerable section of the population are often disproportionately affected by the disease (Cross, 2001). The epidemic if not curbed, can cause devastating impact on the country’s economy due to a steady deterioration of the productivity and loss of human resources and skill (Stone, Ojikutu, Rawlings and Smith, 2009). The high mortality rate caused by HIV/AIDS infections can severely alter the demographic structure of households forcing a role-reversal and significantly endangering the lives of the young children, who are highly vulnerable to neglect and abuse. Their education and health needs may also be affected in the process. Various researchers have highlighted the strong relationship between poverty, gender inequality and HIV/AIDS (Jooma, 2005; Mulligan, 2010; Magezi, 2007). The failure to address the issue, hence, could prove to be fatal endangering the lives of millions of people worldwide. It has also been highlighted through research that children are identified to be one of the most worst affected and vulnerable groups since financial setbacks caused by the death or inability of the family member to care for them, could significantly affect their educational attainment (Lamanna, Riedmann, and Strahm, 2011). Furthermore the victims may also be disadvantaged in terms of seeking effective employment due to prejudices, thus resulting in institutional bias and dismissal from work (Maguire, 2007). This indicates that stigmatization may impact on the financial resources of the household that could otherwise be generated through formal employment. Thus there is a dire need to seek multi-sectoral approaches to address the problem which includes government intervention by way of introducing effective legislations and nation-wide policies, aimed at finding solutions to cure the disease. Implications of the legislation: Various innovations in the field of medical research during the recent decades have played a key role in bringing about radical changes in the prevention and treatment of the dreaded disease, thus significantly reducing the number of people affected with HIV/ AIDS in the process. Such a trend is perceived to be highly motivating by researchers across the globe, since it provides them with an impetus to continue investing in medical research aimed at finding an effective cure for the disease and strive for a permanent cure for the same. Although the spread of the disease is far and wide and difficult to counter in the short-term, social transformation along with an effective cure for the disease can nevertheless be brought about through consistent and tailored efforts. The momentum of the spread of the disease has been successfully curtailed so far, and with the recent spate of research and increased attention from various sectors of the society, it is highly likely that an appropriate and permanent solution to completely eradicate the disease could be found. In order to achieve this objective, the proposed Cure for AIDS Act 2012 must be introduced and implemented promptly. The proposed bill indicates a renewed interest and willingness on the part of the political parties to strive for critical social causes through AIDS response programs led and funded by the government. The introduction of this bill would help immensely in securing a broader platform for medical researchers and practitioners in the form of availability of funds for research, and help them identify and understand the real status of the epidemic. It will also help them to transition successfully from small privately funded projects to large scale government funded programs, carry out mass-treatment programs to measure the outcomes of their efforts; and help them take effective and guided steps towards improving and enhancing their treatment methods and practices. Investment in AIDS related research programs would immensely help transform the current scenario, reduce the costs and expand the scope significantly thus drastically increase the odds of success in favor of the medical community. The introduction of this bill would help in effectively changing the key priority and focus of research from short-term emergency response programs to long-term programs aimed at finding a permanent cure for the disease. There has been significant contribution and progress towards AIDS research globally. Introduction of the Cure for AIDS Act 2012, at this time would significantly help in capitalizing on the available research and exploit the recent momentum, ultimately transferring the success to the communities at large. The gravity of the issue and the sheer size and scope of the epidemic warrants political intervention, as a means to eradicate the disease completely and successfully. This bill provides a real opportunity for the leaders to help eliminate HIV/AIDS. Targeted elected official and reasons for the choice: Congresswoman Eleanor Norton and Don Blanchon -Executive Director of Whitman Walker clinic The Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is currently serving her eleventh term as the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia is an active campaigner for the Cure for AIDS bill. She has been known to be a civil rights activist participating and campaigning for various civil rights issues ever since her college years. Throughout her political career she participated in various social and civil rights issues and gained popularity and public acknowledgement and support as a feminist leader par excellence. Through her persistent efforts she was able to generate various economic benefits for her constituents and has been the driving force in stabilizing the communities she worked for and represented. She has several accomplishments to her credit, one of the most significant of those being her efforts to end the serious financial crisis of the century by restructuring the financial relationship between Congress and the District she represented, by transferring $5 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and several billions more in state costs to the federal government in the early 1990s (Norton.house.gov, 2012). Recently she has been actively campaigning for eliminating HIV/ AIDS prevalence. Her recent efforts urging the committee to maintain the current D.C. needle exchange language in the fiscal year 2013 have been applauded and received with positive response. The preventing the D.C. needle exchange program primarily aims at banning the use of local funds for needle exchange and her efforts have been proved to be successful in getting the rider removed (Washington Examiner, 2012). On the basis of the above discussions it is apparent that the Congresswoman chosen for the purpose of this issue is highly eligible. The second candidate chosen for the purpose of this study is Don Blanchon, the Executive Director of Whitman Walker clinic. Don Blanchon was appointed as the Executive Director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic in the year 2006. He has over a decade worth of experience in the field of national health care management and has held several key positions including the CFO and CEO of Maryland Physicians Care - a not-for-profit community health system (Whitman-Walker.org, 2012). The Whitman Walker Clinic – a not-for-profit organization, which was established in the year 1978, has been actively involved in HIV/ AIDS related issues. It functions according to three key objectives i.e. reducing the HIV infection rates; increasing testing and providing increased access to care and support services to the citizens; and developing recommendations to enable district-wide collaborations regarding policies focused on HIV/ AIDS. The clinic is actively involved in providing HIV education and prevention programs, testing, legal services as well as medical adherence case management services. It is highly active in providing care and support services to people infected with the disease including the LGBT community, who are identified to be one of the most vulnerable groups (Whitman-Walker.org, 2012). The impressive experiences and contribution of the two leaders justifies their selection for this topic. Key points for discussion: The following key points will be discussed during the meeting: Impact of HIV/AIDS on the workforce: The impact of HIV/AIDS on the workforce is being increasingly recognized by employers and firms. Employers are finding it difficult to provide appropriate insurance cover to employees affected with the disease. Figure 1: Impact of HIV/ AIDS in the workplace Source: UNAIDS, Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS and Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, The Business Response to AIDS: Impact and Lessons Learned (Geneva, 2000). According to available statistics, the requested federal budget for the fiscal year 2011 included 20.4 million USD for domestic HIV and AIDS, which increased by 4 per cent from the previous year. Of the total funding received, a staggering 69 per cent of it was dedicated for care while a mere 14 per cent of it was dedicated to research the rest of it was used for providing housing assistance and prevention efforts (AVERT.org, 2012). In the year 2009 the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received over 2175 complaints regarding discrimination at the workplace (EEOC.gov, 2009). Federal investments particularly in the field of medical research have contributed immensely in improving and enhancing the healthcare systems and quality of care to the public, across the globe (Feldman and Link, 2001; Murphy and Topel, 2003). The introduction of such an act would help in finding a cure for the epidemic and contribute greatly towards the betterment of humanity as a whole. Medical research provides hope for the millions of Americans suffering from HIV/ AIDS, saving lives innumerable lives in the process. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention Washington, DC ranks among the top five areas for the largest number of cumulative AIDS cases. References: Bloom, D. E., Canning, D., (2003). The health and poverty of nations: From theory to practice. Journal of Human Development, Vol. 4(1) Cross, C., (2001). Sinking deeper down: HIV/ AIDS as an economic shock to rural households. Society in transition, Vol. 32(1). Feldman, M. P., Link, A. N., (2001). Innovation policy in the knowledge-based economy. Springer Publication, pp. 6-7 Furner, M. O., (2010). Advocacy and objectivity: A crisis in the professionalization of American social science. Transaction Publishers, pp. 279-280 Gostin, L. O., (2004). The AIDS pandemic: Complacency, injustice, and unfulfilled expectations. University of North Carolina Press Jansson, B. S., (2010). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks-Cole, pp. 1-3 Lamanna, M. A., Riedmann, A., Strahm, A., (2011). Marriages, families, and relationships: Making choices in a diverse society. Cengage Learning Publication, pp. 130-131 Magezi, V., (2007). HIV/AIDS, poverty, and pastoral care and counselling: A home-based and congregational ministreial approach in Africa. African Sun Media Publication .pp. 49-52 Maguire, M., (2007). HIV and AIDS in the workplace. GRIN Verlag Publication. Mulligan, S., (2010). Confronting the challenge: poverty, gender, and HIV in South Africa. Peter Lang Publication, pp. 1-5 Murphy, K. M., Topel, R. H., (2003). Measuring the gains from medical research: An economic approach. University of Chicago Press, pp. 1-5 Stone, V., Ojikutu, B., Rawlings, K., Smith, K. Y., (2009). HIV/ AIDS in U.S. Communities of Color. Springer Publication, pp. 79-80 Aids.gov (2012). U.S. Statistics [Online] Available at: http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/statistics/ [Accessed: 27th October, 2012] AVERT.org (2012). HIV and AIDS in the U.S. [Online] Available at: http://www.avert.org/america.htm [Accessed: 28th October, 2012] CBS News (2012). Timothy Ray Brown, man thought to be first cured of AIDS [Online] Available at: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57479106-10391704/timothy-ray-brown-man-thought-to-be-first-cured-of-aids-says-hes-still-cured/ [Accessed: 28th October, 2012] CDC (2012). HIV in the United States [Online] Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/us.htm [Accessed: 27th October, 2012] EEOC (2009). U.S. EEOC Annual Report [Online] Available at: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/reports/fsp2009.htm [Accessed: 28th October, 2012] Govtrack.us (2012). Cure for AIDS Act 2012 [Online] Available at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr6187/text [Accessed: 27th October, 2012] Norton.house.gov (2012). Biography [Online] Available at: http://www.norton.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=189&Itemid=127 [Accessed: 29th October, 2012] WHO (2012). Global Health Observatory [Online] Available at: http://www.who.int/gho/hiv/en/index.html [Accessed: 28th october, 2012] Washington Examiner (2012). Norton gears up for fight over needle exchange [Online] Available at: http://washingtonexaminer.com/norton-gears-up-for-fight-over-needle-exchange/article/397196#.UJEIN29Fyrk [Accessed: 29th October, 2012] Whitman-Walker.org (2012). [Online] Available at: http://www.whitman-walker.org/page.aspx?pid=454 [Accessed: 29th October, 2012] Appendices: Figure 1: Estimated HIV/AIDS infection by age Source: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#hivest Figure 2: Estimated HIV/AIDS infection by race/ ethnicity Source: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#hivest Read More