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Over 2,200 Americans are on waiting lists, denied lifesaving AIDS drugs from hard-hit ADAPs as WH spends 15 months crafting AIDS strategy; Obama offers too little to address AIDS drug crisis and also fails to implement landmark—and prudent—2006 CDC guidelines for routine HIV testing Obama’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy will be formally released at a White House press conference at 2pm Tuesday, followed by a separate White House reception for 250 or so of the nation’s AIDS leaders at 6pm. Many AIDS organizations and advocates—including The Friends of AIDS Foundation—have been disappointed by the laggard approach Obama and Administration officials have toward AIDS.
According to a White House press statement, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy “…is a comprehensive plan focused on: 1) reducing the number of people who become infected with HIV, 2) increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes for people living with HIV, and 3) reducing HIV-related health disparities.”
As of July 9th, there were 2,291 people on waiting lists in 12 states including 605 in Florida—which has the third highest incidence of AIDS in the nation—and which only started its wait list June 1st.
Regarding the 2,200 Americans on waiting lists to receive lifesaving HIV/AIDS medications through the nation’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP): In an effort to address the crisis, Senators Burr, Coburn and Enzi introduced S. 3401, the ACCESS ADAP Act, a bill which provides $126 million in unobligated stimulus funds to eliminate waiting lists through Fiscal Year 2010. The bill failed to gain the support of the Administration or Congress. The $126 million was a number provided by state AIDS directors as the amount of additional federal funding required to meet current program needs given the number of people on waiting lists, expected number of new patients and budget cuts per state.
Under President Obama, the CDC’s landmark—and prudent—2006 guidelines recommending routine testing for HIV for all those ages 13-64 have also not been implemented nor even really prioritized.
THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE and THE FRIENDS OF AIDS FOUNDATION NEEDS YOUR HELP!
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. Let Your Voice Be Heard and send the following mesasge to President Obama!! at:
http://capwiz.com/politicsol/mail/?id=3181&lvl=F&chamber=P
Dear President Obama,
I am concerned that so little has been done by the White House to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in America.
Under your administration, AIDS programs have essentially been starved. More than 2,200 Americans are now on waiting lists in twelve states, denied lifesaving AIDS drugs from hard-hit state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs).
The administration spent 15 months crafting a national AIDS strategy that is simply a day late and a dollar short. There is no funding, no 'how to,' no real leadership expressed in the plan. In addition to offering little to address the current AIDS drug crisis, the strategy also fails to implement landmark--and prudent--2006 CDC guidelines for routine HIV testing.
I urge you to show real leadership in the fight to against HIV/AIDS in this country by committing the resources needed to end the AIDS drug crisis and to immediately implement CDC-recommend routine HIV testing.
President Obama, I know you can do better on AIDS.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
2. Please forward this information to everyone you know!
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the lives of HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE and TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
