AIDS activists protest to decry Obama administration's dismal record on AIDS

52 AIDS activists from the groups Housing Works, AIDS Action in Mississippi (AAIM) and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) interrupted a speech by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with a spirited protest to decry the Obama administration's dismal record on AIDS during an appearance by the Secretary at the United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) on Monday in Orlando. At the beginning of her luncheon speech before an audience of approximately 2,000 conference attendees, the AIDS activists marched down the main aisle of the auditorium chanting, "Secretary Sebelius, Don't let us down!, don't let us die!" The protesters then gathered at the front of the hall with their signs and placards just below the stage and podium where Sebelius was speaking and then held their signs up high, effectively blocking the Secretary from view.

“We need a real sense of urgency and a concrete strategy for eliminating these lists. The US finds the resources for the things we prioritize. This needs to be one of those priorities”

"Secretary Sibelius said nothing new today. The Obama administration's efforts on AIDS continue to fall far short of what is needed and as a result, the health and well being of thousands of HIV/AIDS patients is being jeopardized," said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Senior Director, Public Health Division for AHF. "The money the White House has redirected toward the crisis facing the nation's network of AIDS Drug Assistance Programs—$25 million in July, with an additional $30 million for next year—has done little to solve the $126 million shortfall that is crippling ADAP. As of September 9, there are 3,423 people on ADAP waiting lists across the US—1,570 of whom are in Florida, which also has the third highest caseload of HIV patients in the nation. We needed to send a message to Washington with Secretary Sebelius, who gave what was basically a stump speech, that the administration must really step up to the plate and identify funds to redirect to cash-strapped ADAPs. The government should act like its citizens' lives depend on it—they do!"

"We need a real sense of urgency and a concrete strategy for eliminating these lists. The US finds the resources for the things we prioritize. This needs to be one of those priorities," said Christine Campbell, Vice President for National Advocacy and Organizing for Housing Works.

Earlier in the summer, Obama Administration officials suggested that its addition of $25 million in funding for this year and $30 million in additional funding for next year could adequately help close the gaping $126 million hole in funding for ADAP, the federal and state funded, state run network of assistance programs that supply lifesaving AIDS drugs to low-income Americans in need.

As many states face massive budget shortfalls and seek to cut services, thirteen states have gone as far as instituting patient waiting lists. As of September 9^th, 3,423 patients across the nation have been placed on ADAP waiting lists to receive access to lifesaving antiretroviral AIDS treatment. In addition, many ADAPs are raising eligibility requirements, which shut out even more people from these programs.

Hosted by the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) USCA's mission is to increase the strength and diversity of the community-based response to the AIDS epidemic through education, training, new partnerships, collaboration and networking. USCA is the largest AIDS-related gathering in the U.S., bringing together over 3,000 workers from all fronts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic—from case managers and physicians, to public health workers and advocates, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) to policymakers—to build national support networks, exchange the latest information and learn cutting-edge tools to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Housing Works