More Providers = More Survivors
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On November 29th, approximately 50 people—health care workers and concerned citizens—rallied in front of the Federal Building demanding universal access to HIV/AIDS treatments.
The rally, just days before World AIDS Day on December 1st, was part of a nationally coordinated action demanding that the US government fund a comprehensive $8 billion initiative over 5 years to train and retain health care workers in sub-Saharan Africa in order to follow through on promises made to the global community. Those promises included universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and care by the year 2010. Dozens of empty, white, lab coats were floated in the air to symbolize the lack of trained health care workers in Africa. Participants also called for full funding of the Ryan White CARE Act at $2.6 billion.
The Ryan White CARE Act provides treatment to thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid and do not have private insurance. The CARE Act is reauthorized by Congress every 5 years but was held up by law-makers in 2005. If the compromise for the CARE ACT, which is currently stalled in the Senate, should pass, then $70 to $100 million in funding would be cut from New York State alone.
The organizers, the U of R chapter of AMSA, the U of R Chapter of PHR, and Finger Lakes ANAC, urged those gathered to write letters to their representatives in Congress as well as the president demanding no compromises on health care for people with HIV/AIDS and to hold the government accountable to its promises of universal access to AIDS treatment and prevention.
