Bloomberg’s Misplaced Priorities

Republican Bloomberg fans have apparently forgotten the mayor’s many nannyisms, or the fact that he has surrounded himself with liberal-Democrat administrators, or his appointment of 56 judges (all whom were Democrats) [“Bloomberg’s Budget,” Editorial, January 28-30, 2005].The New York Sun’s thinking is that as an administrator and non-beholding politico, he seems to be doing a good job. Our Mayor Bloomberg wasn’t too busy to find the time to attend the third wedding of Donald Trump. But not standing as the representative of our city, the city that took the hit for the country, at our president’s inauguration in a time of war, places this mayor truly as a self-serving aristocrat. I find that one act alone deplorable and without redemption.

TOM LYNCH
Belle Harbor, N.Y.

U.N.: HIV-Positive Workers OK

The United Nations takes the issue of HIV/AIDS among its peacekeepers extremely seriously, and has taken several steps to reduce the risks of peacekeepers either contracting or spreading HIV among their host populations [“Monitoring HIV in U.N. Peacekeepers,” Benny Avni, Foreign, January 24, 2005].

When undertaking peacekeeping operations, the U.N. depends on its Member States to voluntarily contribute troops to deploy to hotspots where they face not only the threat of violence, but also other hazards such as landmines and disease. As Benny Avni notes, there is no consensus among U.N. Member States regarding mandatory testing for HIV/AIDS, although several troop-contributing countries do have mandatory testing policies for those deployed to the field.

The agreed policy allows HIV positive personnel to serve in a mission if they are able to fulfill their duties. Individuals who suffer from full-fledged AIDS are not considered medically fit for deployment. The U.N. is helping troop contributing countries, including Namibia, to strengthen their pre-deployment medical evaluations.

The U.N. focus has been on prevention and behavior change. The Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is engaged with militaries in 80 countries, facilitating HIV/AIDS initiatives targeting both recruits and potential peacekeepers. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Liberia, as in other missions, has a unit dedicated to providing both induction and ongoing HIV/AIDS training for peacekeepers. It also runs HIV/AIDS prevention programs for the local population, including, for example, collaboration and training projects with local religious leaders, a popular radio show, and joint initiatives with other agencies targeting vulnerable groups.

Stigma and discrimination have been major factors driving the epidemic. The logic of your article would hold that people who are HIV-positive should not have the right to work or travel, as if this would somehow contain the epidemic. Only a global alliance, including people living with HIV, has any chance of success against this deadly disease. The U.N. continues to lead this effort, including through its peacekeeping operations.

ROXANNE BAZERGAN
The writer is the UNAIDS/DPKO Policy Adviser on HIV/AIDS
United Nations
Manhattan

‘Name That School’

Regarding Michael Miscione’s letter to the editor [“Name That School,” Letters, January 28-30, 2005], he laments that the city has no high school named after George Washington.

Alas, Mr. Miscione is misinformed. Washington Heights is home to George Washington High School, which claims such notable alumni as Alan Greenspan, Tiny Tim, Henry Kissinger, Rod Carew, Marvin and Bernard Kalb, and Art Benger.

JEFF BENKOE
GWHS Class of 1969
Rego Park, N.Y.

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