Discussion Board

Policy Analysis
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According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2017 report, African Americans are the worst hit by new HIV infection. Atlanta is the worst hit with the infection rate termed as of “epidemic proportions.” Gay and bisexual men are severely affected by this problem. The policy topic “HIV Rates in Black Men” is important in identifying some of the ways to effectively contribute towards the solution of HIV problem among Gay and bisexual men. To get the best results from this policy, an effective evaluation criterion is needed. Policy evaluation is a systematic and organized means of identifying ways of ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of a policy including identifying alternatives such as government programs or other methods of implementation. A policy that promotes community-based meetings as an alternative to dealing with HIV problem will require evaluation criteria that focus on effectiveness. Community-based meetings seek to unite members of a community in a participatory approach whereby affected and infected people share information on coping strategies, medication and prevention. These groups encourage members to be bold and reduce stigma. Using effectiveness criterion will determine if this alternative will be successful in ensuring that the black population is willing to attend meetings, whether the meetings are time-consuming and the challenges in organizing and funding these meetings. A policy alternative that seeks to integrate HIV prevention or treatment services with other healthcare services needs to be evaluated using efficiency criterion.

This alternative seeks to encourage African Americans to participate in HIV prevention. This practice promotes acceptances of HIV related services and improves access to medical care. Efficiency criterion involves the economic feasibility. The policy should be such that it is easy to implement and does not cost taxpayers much money or involve a lot of complex process and structures that will lead to the use of a lot of resources (Kraft & Furlong, 2018). Integrating HIV services into other medical services means there will be an increased workload on healthcare professionals. This practice will also see infected people or those at risk shying away from seeking normal healthcare services for fear of being confronted with HIV issues. These factors might make the policy weak and unable to satisfactorily meet the set goals or objectives about reduction of HIV spread and access to treatment. Universal testing as a policy alternative to reduce the spread of HIV can achieve better results if well implemented. Equity is the best criterion to evaluate this alternative. Universal testing for patients aged between 13 and 64 will contribute towards reduction of transmission of HIV. According to CDC, annual testing of multiple sex partners and other vulnerable groups such as those using drugs or having partners living with HIV will significantly combat the spread of HIV. Most patients are diagnosed after they have been affected by AIDS. Universal testing helps in identifying eligible patients for medication. This reduces the spread of HIV/AIDS. Universal testing requires the involvement of different stakeholders. There are many stakeholders in policy-making and implementation. These include elected officials, government departments, interest groups and the citizens among others. The equity criterion looks at how the policy’s costs or benefits are fairly distributed among different stakeholders or citizens. The government is always keen on considering what it considers a fair proposal. Choosing the right evaluation method will determine how successful the policy will be implemented or made.
Reference
Kraft, M., & Furlong, S. (2018). Public policy. Washington (D.C.): CQ press.