My preparation for this assignment began with a review of the Healthy People initiative which was developed by the Ministry of Health and Social services. Our healthcare system is currently facing many ongoing health issues. The Healthy People Initiative is a set of goals and objectives designed to guide national health promotion and disease prevention to improve the health of all people in the United States (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Social Services, 2010). The population health issue I chose for my policy campaign is reducing HIV stigma. In this assignment, I will illustrate the significant impact of stigma against the HIV/AIDS-infected population and suggest a potential advocacy campaign to reduce the incidence of this epidemic. I will also discuss some of the legal, regulatory and ethical considerations regarding this initiative. Poindexter, 2007, p. In 1981, the disease was first reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike many other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV. This means that once you have HIV, you have it for the rest of your life (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). There is currently no cure for HIV. Fortunately, thanks to medical and technological advances in pharmaceutical research, this disease is now considered a chronic disease. Today, with appropriate medical care and good compliance, the infected p...... middle of paper...... Dhanireddy, S. (2012). HIV/AIDS: legal and ethical issues. Retrieved from http://depts.washington.edu/nwaetc/presentations/uploads/79/legal_issues_and_hiv.pdf Milstead, J. A. (2013). Health Policy and Politics (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC Global Headquarters Poindexter, C.C. (2007). Successes and difficulties in managing AIDS organizations. Administration in Social Work, 31(3), 5-23. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Healthy People 2020. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/TopicsObjectives2020/pdfs/HP2020_brochure_with_LHI_508.pdf Zukoski, A.P. and Thorburn, S. (November 4, 2009). Experience of stigma and discrimination among adults living with HIV in a context of low HIV prevalence: a qualitative analysis. Care of patients with AIDS and STDs, 23(), 267-275.http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/apc.2008.0168