Education for Life during the AIDS Pandemic

Abstract

6 gay men who recognized the medical psychological social legal and economic consequences of the epidemic in New York City founded the Gay Mens Health Crisis (GMHC) in 1981. It now serves >2000 persons with or related complex who belong to 1 or more high risk population groups e.g. intravenous (IV) drug users but the majority of clients are gay or bisexual men. GMHC provides individual and group counseling recreation financial advocacy and legal and ombudsman services. It also distributes comprehensive and scientifically accurate information to educate high risk groups health care providers and the general public so as to prevent the spread of the virus (HIV) and to destroy the barriers set up by misinformation and fear. For example HIV is not transmitted by casual contact e.g. kissing hugging and shaking hands. The most effective ways of reducing transmission of HIV include avoiding infected blood semen and vaginal fluid exchanges or not sharing contaminated needles syringes and other IV drug items. 2 safe sex practices consist of using intact latex condoms during vaginal oral and anal sex and preferably the man should ejaculate outside these cavities. GMHC disseminates this information via existing networks that extend to every neighborhood and ethnic community in the city e.g. libraries. Medical Answers about AIDS and Legal Answers to AIDS are 2 of 35 GMHC publications that address the variety of issues affecting the community. GMHC also publishes information in Spanish and chinese. GMHCs Hotline provides yet another means of disseminating information. Other services include the Professional Education Program a cable television program and the Prevention Program.