HIV Advances Stalled: From Vienna to USA to NJ

by: Bill Orr

Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 09:53:51 AM EDT

Data from our Department of Health indicates that since the beginning of the epidemic in NJ there have been 73,800 documented individuals with HIV/AIDS, of which 38,788 have passed away and 35,102 remain alive. The HIV-related health disparities are particularly pronounced in NJ where one in 62 Blacks and one in 184 Hispanics are living with HIV/AIDS vs. one in 701 Whites. The number of people who were exposed through injection drug use has shown a downward trend between 2005 and 2009, while those exposed through male-to-male or heterosexual contact has continued to increase. 31% of our cases, higher than in other states, are women.

The problem is that internationally wealthy donor nations are reducing their funding, nationally the White House's plan does not propose an increase in funding, and in NJ our governor and legislature are cutting funding. In our NJ budget there is a reduction in the number of individuals who qualify for the state drug distribution program, a $5 million cut in the HIV rapid testing program, and increases in medical co-pays. As the NY Times has editorialized, "Slowing the spread of H.I.V. will require multiple approaches. The challenge will be to find enough money at a time of limited resources when AIDS financing has flattened out."

Discrimination, stigma, and public apathy remain as significant barriers. However, they existed initially with cancer as well, but Americans, regardless of whether they thought they were at risk for cancer, united to demand solutions. Every nine-and-a-half minutes, another person in the United States becomes infected with HIV, and many of them will struggle for access to care. We must continue demanding more and better research, prevention, testing, treatment, and access for all Americans. Imagine how much better off we would be if 25% of our current war budget were transferred to improving our health.