DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TRIES TO IMPROVE HIV/AIDS INITIATIVES

WASHINGTON - - The District of Columbia's health director has
launched a campaign to address what has been called an AIDS/HIV
crisis in the nation's capital.

Today, one in 20 District residents is infected with the human
immunodeficiency virus - the virus that causes AIDS - and about one
in 15 residents is living with AIDS. The rate of infection in the
city is far above the national rate.

Last month, Dr. Gregg Pane took control of the health department's
troubled HIV/AIDS Administration from Marsha Martin, who announced
her departure only hours after new Mayor Adrian M. Fenty was sworn
into office. Pane is realigning the administration and using its
resources to tackle a series of "critical tasks" within 90 days.

Among the initiatives are developing disease response and prevention
plans, distributing condoms and better organizing HIV data.

"I felt action was needed," Pane said last week. "We're all saying
it's a crisis. Let's do something. Shake it up and set some goals."

Under the plan, about 250,000 condoms will be distributed to 60
nonprofits by mid-February, and HIV rapid test kits will be given to
doctors. The city also is developing a comprehensive HIV prevention
effort for youths, reviewing grant management and conducting
oversight visits of the government's service providers.

Pane said employees will enter 1,200 backlogged HIV surveillance
cases into District databases - which are key to tracking the
epidemic and applying for federal grant funding.

D.C. Appleseed, a nonprofit, public-policy organization, contributed
to the city's plan, Pane said. In a December review of the
government's efforts, the group said the city had made progress but
that top officials "have not remained engaged leaders on this issue."

"My reaction is it's a very good thing that Dr. Pane this quickly is
trying to get organized and give this thing high priority, high
visibility," D.C. Appleseed executive director Walter Smith said.