A preventive response to AIDS in a low prevalence region: a multisectoral, multistrategy approach

The public health response to AIDS has been neglectful. Successive windows of opportunity for primary prevention have been lost, especially in low prevalence regions. However, an early response to preventing HIV infection is reported from Edmonton, a centre estimated as being 2-3 years behind larger North American cities in terms of its phase on the AIDS epidemic curve. In October, 1985, an Interagency Council was established. The Council is multisectoral, composed of professionals and lay people who contribute equally. Lay groups extend public health's reach, while health professionals add legitimacy to health promotion efforts. It is multistrategy by ensuring that both the felt needs of the lay community and the perceived needs of the professionals are incorporated; behaviour change theory is applied in all programming. The Council operationalizes some of the basic tenets of health promotion.