The U.S. presidential candidates are overlooking the effect of HIV/AIDS in disadvantaged communities and among men who have sex with men (MSM), writes James Driscoll, former member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and current adviser to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in a December 12 Washington Times opinion piece  (washingtontimes.com, 12/12).

Driscoll notes in the article that some HIV/AIDS advocates are warning that current infection estimates fail to accurately reflect the epidemic among minorities and MSM. He also highlights the fact that though medical advances have made HIV manageable for some people, many come forward for treatment only after sickness forces them to get tested and the disease is in advanced stages. “Early testing saves lives because treatment is most successful when initiated early,” Driscoll writes, adding that none of the candidates have “issued a strong call” for increased HIV testing.

“The presidential candidates love broad, general talk about health care for all,” he continues. “One reliable measure of a candidate’s commitment to health care is her or his actions to improve access to testing and care for all Americans with HIV.”


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