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"The revised CDC figure represents an unacceptable level of new HIVinfections for a preventable disease. The revised estimate underlines theneed for a National AIDS Strategy with measurable outcomes, reliance onevidence-based programs, and sufficient funding," said Joseph Interrante, CEO,Nashville CARES in Nashville, TN and Chair of AIDS Action Council's Board ofDirectors. "Stopping the spread of HIV and treating all people living withHIV must be a high priority for our leaders and the American public,"Interrante added.
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The higher estimate of annual new HIV infections does not mean that HIVprevention does not work. What is failing is national leadership to fund andsupport sound, scientifically effective HIV prevention programs. Federalfunding for domestic HIV prevention has not kept pace with the epidemic,especially given the crisis of HIV/AIDS in communities of color, particularlyin African American and Hispanic communities and the high impact of HIV on gaymen and men who have sex with men. Adjusted for inflation, federal fundingfor HIV prevention has decreased since 2001. Federal law blocks federalfunding for syringe exchange programs, which the scientific literature hasdemonstrated clearly as an effective HIV prevention tool. Support forcomprehensive sex education that helps keep young people healthy is neglectedwhile the current administration supports pouring millions of dollars intoabstinence-only programs that have been proven to be ineffective. "This isnot just another set of statistics. There are people behind these numbers.People are becoming infected with a disease that is preventable. We know howto prevent HIV, but we have been fighting this epidemic with one hand tiedbehind our back, reflecting a disturbing dismissal of HIV prevention as apublic health priority," said Ronald Johnson, Deputy Director, AIDS ActionCouncil. "The new, higher estimate is yet one more wake-up call to ournational leaders that they need to do more, starting with developing andimplementing a real national AIDS strategy," Johnson noted.
Editor's note 1: Nationally recognized HIV/AIDS experts Ronald Johnson(quoted in this release) and Rebecca Haag, Executive Director, AIDS Action,are available for interviews. Ronald is in Mexico City (at the InternationalAIDS Conference), and Rebecca is stateside.
Contact: Diego Sanchez, AIDS Action, 617.835.1455 [email protected]
SOURCE AIDS Action
