HEP 452 Module 6 Video Analysis Assignment

1. Describe the coalitions that formed in the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Describe some of the different characters, and their role in addressing HIV/AIDS, who were drawn together to address this health issue. How did these diverse people come to work together? (about 200 words, 4 points)

The coalition formed in the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic was a grassroots coalition aimed at improving the health outcome of the gay people who were dying from mysterious illnesses which was proved to be HIV/AIDS. There are different characters involved in the film, some who advocated for the recognition of HIV/AIDS as a killer disease among gay people, while others tried to block the efforts. Don Francis is one of the characters who noticed a growing number of deaths from unexplained sources among gay men in Los Angeles. His role was investigation about the cause of deaths and mobilization of the gay community. Another character is Bill Kraus who supports Francis’ efforts in mobilizing the gay community, despite others expressing resentment as they perceive Francis’ efforts as unwanted interference in their lives. Dr. Robert Gallo is another major character in the film, one of the scientists who continued to block Francis’ efforts to prove that the disease is transmitted through blood in the CDC. However, after the death toll increased, these characters believed in Francis, but began fighting on who should take credit for discovering the virus.

2. Describe how politics and funding streams influence the availability of resources needed to address this health crisis.

Politics and funding streams affect the availability of resources needed to address the HIV/AIDs crisis in that they did not believe in Francis. The government cut down funding that was needed to fund HIV/AIDS research. Politics is all about propaganda, and this explains why there was an increased resentment among the gay community as they perceived that Francis wanted to bring unwanted interference in their lives. Also, the medical community, who are supposed to verify such information to help attract funding for the health course, failed acknowledge Francis’ efforts, with many resenting his involvement because of their personal agendas. Also, scientists such as Dr. Robert Gallo were unwilling to prove the disease was transmitted through blood. All these differences especially from health experts made it difficult to influence funding in the Francis’ cause.

3. Describe the scene in which there is a vote on the closing of the bathhouses. Why are people reluctant to change their behaviors in this instance? What is at stake? What do the bathhouses represent? (200 words, 4 points)

The bathhouses were deemed to be the main areas where HIV/AIDS was transmitted as gay people had sex in there. Francis attempts to have the bathhouses closed was met with resistance from the gay community as it was deemed as an unwanted interference in their lives. Since the gay community did not believe that the disease that resulted to death was sexually transmitted, they were unwilling to change their behaviors, treating what Francis presented to them as an issue of personal interest. Despite the stiff opposition to have the bathhouse closed, the gay lives were at stake as more people ended up contracting HIV/AIDs, and this led to mass deaths. To Francis, the bathhouses were the main spread of HIV/AIDs, and needed to be closed. However, to the gay community, it was a place where they could fulfil their pleasure and thus, it was symbolic and needed to be preserved. Despite the differing opinions, it was undeniable that the bathhouses promoted the spread of HIV/AIDs.

4. Describe the scene in which they advocate for blood donor restrictions. What happens? What is at stake for those who oppose the restrictions? What are the costs for the main character’s losing his temper for the organization he represents? (200 words, 4 points)

According to Francis, the killer disease (HIV/AIDS) was transmitted through blood, and therefore, he advocated for blood donor restrictions to prevent more cases of HIV/AIDS. However, his efforts were not well welcomed as scientists such as Dr. Robert Gallo and the CDC were unwilling to prove that the disease was transmitted through blood. To those opposing Francis’ theory, they were only fighting to determine who should receive credit for discovering the virus. This was an unnecessary step as it did not help in protecting the community from being infected with the HIV virus. As a result of their ignorance, the death toll climbed rapidly. After the number deaths from HIV/AIDS increased, Francis lost his temper and this cost him his funding for his research from the National Institute for Health. Dr. Robert Gallo is fed up with Francis and decides to cut him off from the organization.

5. Ultimately, science influences advocacy efforts and drives change. Describe the process by which evidence is used to persuade people to make changes for health. Give examples. (200 words, 4 points)

Science plays a crucial role in advocacy efforts and driving change. Rather than spreading propaganda and theory, science helps in proving facts that can be used as tangible evidence to make relevant claims. For example, Francis had reasonable doubt that the killer disease was transmitted by blood, but he had no prove, he needed more research to be performed to ascertain his claim. However, his efforts to prove his theory was declined by CDC, and other scientists. As a result, people failed to believe him, refusing to close the bathhouses and declining the restrictions on blood transfusion. However, many people continued to die from the mysterious disease due to lack of evidence as well as the reluctance from leaders to acknowledge the problem. If the scientists and CDC had made efforts to prove that HIV/AIDS was transmitted through blood, many people would have believed and this would have been easy to close the bathhouses and impose restrictions on blood transfusion with minimal resistance as the people could have been given facts rather than propaganda. With the government terming HIV/AIDS as a disease for the homosexuals, they didn’t provide any facts and neither did they provide solutions to the problem. Cutting funding couldn’t have helped to adopt healthy behavioral changes.