San Francisco, CA—Project Inform and other HIV/AIDS advocates expressed concerned today with Governor Davis' proposed HIV/AIDS budget for HIV/AIDS programs in his Fiscal Year 2001-02 budget. In spite of a significant budget surplus, the Governor's proposal does not ensure that HIV/AIDS care and prevention programs are able to keep pace with California's growing epidemic. This is particularly troubling as the epidemic continues to disproportionately affect communities of color, men who have sex with men, and women.
"Since Governor Davis has taken office, HIV/AIDS programs have received only $15 million in new state dollars," said Anne Donnelly, Public Policy Director. "This amount is far below what is needed to address the growing epidemic in California that is heavily impacting women, people of color, and gay men. We call on the Governor to provide adequate funding for HIV/AIDS care and prevention programs, especially given the current budget surplus in California."
The Governor's proposed budget does not provide any additional state funding for HIV/AIDS programs. Though the plan includes an increase of $5 million from federal sources for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides HIV drugs to people who cannot otherwise afford them, advocates have estimated the need to be at least $9 million. It is critical that the Governor continue California's commitment to ensuring that HIV positive Californian's can access needed medications by providing the additional $4 million for ADAP from new state general fund dollars and not from federal funds intended for other important programs.
Project Inform will work with other advocates, the Governor, his Administration and the State Legislature to ensure adequate state funding for HIV/AIDS programs, including ADAP, the HIV assay assistance program, affordable housing programs, Residential Care facilities, and treatment advocacy programs for communities of color. We will also advocate for increased funding for the Prevention for Positives program, an innovative initiative that links prevention and care in a clinic based intervention program aimed at reducing risk of transmission. Finally, we will advocate for an important initiative to address methamphetamine (speed) abuse among gay men. Speed use, which has increased among gay men in recent years, has been shown to correlate with unsafe sexual behavior and new cases of HIV infection.