What does a rightwing Republican Governor do when he is faced with an HIV crisis?
He turns to…
Science and Liberal policies, of course. Probably belatedly but none the less that's where he goes for solutions to curtailing the crisis.
Our "good friend", Governor Mike Pence, is not just dealing with the fallout from the Indiana Legislature's horrible discrimination bill this week, he's also dealing with a major HIV health crisis in Southern Indiana.
LA Times: "Rural Indiana struggles as 'epicenter of the HIV outbreak'"
Governor Mike Pence in the face of this health crisis has had to resort to "liberal" (gahh!) policies in order to try to curtail the problem:
On Thursday, Gov. Mike Pence authorized a short-term exchange to fight the spread of HIV, an exception to Indiana’s conservative anti-drug policy that bars needle-exchange programs that trade dirty needles for uncontaminated ones.
/snip
In addition to the needle exchange, the order sets up a command center to coordinate HIV and substance-abuse treatments, according to the state. The state is also establishing a public awareness program to explain safe sex and needle disposal and a hotline to get HIV testing and treatment.
The number of cases is expected to increase. Health officials say they are trying to contact as many as 100 people tied to those with confirmed HIV infections.
Apparently prayer isn't enough to stem this tide.
Time Magazine: How an HIV Outbreak Hit the Heartland
Indiana Governor Mike Pence on Thursday declared a public health emergency in a rural Indiana county after 79 cases of HIV were confirmed there in the last several months.
/snip
In this area of the state, there’s relatively weak public health infrastructure to prevent the infection from spreading.
/snip
“The system isn’t working and isn’t strong enough from a public health perspective,” Meyerson says.
The CDC has been called in to help…
NBC Chicago: Indiana Calls in CDC to Help with HIV Outbreak
A medical team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will arrive in Scott County on Monday to help state staff with follow-up contacts of HIV-positive individuals and data analysis, the agency said.
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/...
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To sum the situation up…
The people of Indiana and are experiencing a tragic and difficult crisis that can only be curtailed by very icky "liberal" things like:
1. A Needle Exchange Program
2. Sex Education
3. The Centers for Disease Control - a science-based government agency
4. Medical and Treatment Professionals - also science-based professionals
The conservative right wing Governor of Indiana's emergency response plan does not seem to include churches or random charities?
Why in the world would he choose all of that science-type stuff?
Isn't prayer enough?
Apparently NOT.
Like Governor Pence, I am not a scientist, but I did some science stuff in school and I think that this is a clear example of a scientific experiment that proves that rightwing Republican policy does not stand up in a reality-based crisis situation.
I will give Pence credit, for the moment, for breaking free of his rightwing fantasy-land cocoon, but I am still very skeptical that his help will be as meaningful as it could have been if he had just had all of the outlined "liberal" policies in his plan from the moment he moved into the Governor's Mansion in Indiana.
Please read the articles that are linked in full. It is notable that poverty and lackluster government resources are big driver in this epidemic that have led to a breakdown of the society and desperation that has driven citizens to both prostitution and to drugs. Not sure what role the churches have played in all of this, but if the situation is any indication of their efficacy - assuming they are preaching against prostitution and drug use - they've failed.
Tip my friend aaraujo on your way out…
WTF, Indiana?
thanks