Sunday, September 30, 2007

HAA Fails Again

More than 70,000 condoms have been returned to the DC government by community groups due to defective packaging. This revelation continues the ongoing inability of the HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA) to effectively prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. While New York City can distribute millions of defective-free condoms per month, here in DC we are unable to provide just a few hundred thousand over the course of a year, with many of those needing to be returned.



What will it take to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the District? The first step is to put quality controls and distribution systems in place to make sure condoms are getting to at-risk populations across our city. The Fenty administration is working tirelessly to improve HAA, but things are not moving fast enough in my opinion. Each time a resident of DC contracts HIV, we have failed as leaders.



I encourage all of you reading this blog to make your voices heard. Send an email or letter to the mayor telling him you want more to be done to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The Importance of Quality Administration

DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee is working around the clock to improve our schools and give children in the District the same educational opportunities that students have in our surrounding suburbs. In a recent YouTube video, she discussed her frustration with our schools, describing the disconnect between the quality of education and the perception of the problem held by many parents. For example, she discussed a school with only 10 percent proficiency among students, but the main concern of the parents was the potential closing of the building.



Examples such of this are very troubling, because lack of understanding about the state of our education system can lead to increased barriers when Ms. Rhee is trying to make drastic changes. The biggest challenge she faces now is her attempt to remove underperforming administrators and reorganize the structure of DCPS. Certain residents have protested her attempts to fire hundreds of current DCPS employees, but while the political battle turns to protecting jobs, the kids continue to be neglected.



Ms. Rhee has an excellent plan to reform our schools. Our focus must remain on giving students the best education possible. I urge residents of DC to work together to support Ms. Rhee in her endeavour. She deserves the chance to succeed, and we need her to be successful.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

DC's Greatest Epidemic

DC has serious health care problems. Finding ways to increase access, improve quality of care and upgrade facilities present big challenges to our city on an ongoing basis. But a scary epidemic is in our midst; and surprising little is being done to stop it. HIV/AIDS infects approximately one in 20 DC residents, and perhaps even more. It is not a problem faced only by the gay community or the African American community, as many believe. HIV/AIDS is a threat to all of us. Unfortunately, the DC HIV AIDS Administration (HAA) has been ineffective in curbing the spread of the virus.



Residents are not getting tested at the rates they need to be; there is little public education about prevention and treatment; the city is not tracking those with HIV/AIDS to help prevent its spread; and non-profit organizations paid by the District to help fight the epidemic are not held accountable for their performance. This must be fixed.



Last week, I met with David Mariner from DC Fights Back (http://www.dcfightsback.org/) who helped me understand the complexity of the epidemic in the District and brought me up to speed on some of the necessary solutions.



HAA must function at a higher standard. We need increased public awareness to educate residents about prevention and risk. We must do a better job focusing on prevention. For example, New York City distributes up to five million condoms each month. DC has been unable to distribute 250,000 condoms over the past eight months. This is unacceptable. Treatment and care also must be improved, and this requires partnering with non-profit groups with expertise, but we must also hold them accountable.



While DC has a higher HIV/AIDS rate than any other state in the union, we are lucky to have organizations like DC Fights Back to help educate our leaders and find concrete policy solutions.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

A Healthy DC

Nearly one in four children in DC is overweight. That means we have the largest number of obese kids in the United States. With the growing epidemic of obesity in this country, this is not a statistic we District residents should be proud of. We are killing our kids, and it's only going to get worse if we don't do something about it.

Changing eating habits is not an easy task. Companies offering fast food and junk food spend billions of dollars every year advertising to children and their parents. Healthy foods are often not available in certain neighborhoods of this city. There is not enough emphasis placed on physical activity. This can all be changed, but it must be done with parents, schools and government working together.

My mother raised me on a healthful diet. Because I learned the value of nutrition at a young age, I naturally watch my diet now that I am older. And I will do the same with my children, making sure that they learn good eating habits. Parents and other adults must take an active roles in giving kids the tools and the knowledge they need to stay healthy.

Government and business can contribute, as well. We need to do more public awareness and outreach campaigns in our poorest neighborhoods. Messages directed to parents and children should encourage healthy eating and physical activity. Businesses should offer healthy options for residents as well, giving them the opportunity to eat right. Finally, our schools must to do more to promote a healthy lifestyle. This means better nutrition education, more rigorous PE and the removal of all junk foods from school. With a bit of imagination, school kitchens can provide delicious, nutritious, and well-balanced meals, without increasing costs.


Let's give our kids a head start and give them the tools they need to live long and healthy lives.