Policy to combat AIDS

In the state of Sao Paulo Brazil there are hundreds of thousands of people who are infected with HIV-1 and in the coming years millions will be infected. A rational control plan to contain its spread includes the use of scientifically valid data rejection of discrimination moral and public education and the renunciation of persecution of individuals because of sex practices. The epidemic is basically transmitted sexually or by contaminated blood. It is imperative to educate people by insisting on correct information; in 1988 there are still people uncertain about AIDS who tended to nurture misinformation. Preventive measures consist of abstinence reciprocal fidelity of couples avoidance of anal intercourse and the use of the condom (although rupture may occur). Educational campaigns involve the newspapers radio and television; and distribution of pamphlets at public places and those frequented by sexually promiscuous persons. A large percentage of Brazilian workers returning from Africa also got infected with HIV-2. Drug abusers are hard to convince to stop reusing syringes and to avoid blood rituals. The risk of infection is 1/40000 transfusions after administration of anti-HIV negative blood whereas the risk of getting infected is 80% if anti-HIV positive blood is given. False positive tests results have to be excluded: Western-blot alone does not confirm HIV-1 infection. Hemophiliacs receive anti-HIV negative blood treated with heat but nothing is foolproof. Most of all universities and government institutions connected to scientifically sound preventive medicine programs have to be enlisted in a coherent and productive combat against AIDS.