AMA Puts New Stress on AIDS Education

The American Medical Assn. called Wednesday for a coordinated education campaign to combat AIDS, dismissing past efforts by government and private groups as inadequate.

A report adopted by the group’s governing House of Delegates said that until effective treatment and vaccines are developed, “the only available measure for reducing the spread of (AIDS) infection is behavior modification achieved through education of the public.”

The report detailed ongoing education programs, but it concluded that such efforts had been inadequate and lacked coordination.

Recommendations adopted call for a national conference to develop an education program; increased federal leadership to ensure coordinated involvement by agencies and private groups and the distribution of funds, and programs aimed at groups including young adults, minorities, prostitutes, sexual partners of high-risk people and health care workers.