ADAP Beyond the Numbers Campaign Puts a Face on a Funding Crisis

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) recently launched a new website to help increase awareness about the funding crises affecting state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs across the country. More than a dozen ADAPs have created waiting lists for potential new clients, while 17 more have adopted various other cost-containment measures in the long wake of the recession.

As of July 7, 8,655 people with HIV/AIDS were on waiting lists for ADAP assistance in 13 states, according to the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors. Part of NMAC's "ADAP Beyond the Numbers" campaign, the new website features a collection of videos made by some of the people who rely on ADAPs to receive their medications. NMAC is encouraging people to submit their own clips.

According to the Office of Minority Health, racial and ethnic minorities accounted for almost 71 percent of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2008. African Americans represented 52 percent of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses that year.

In 2009 in Florida, one in 42 black males, one in 63 black females and one in 113 Hispanic males were HIV-infected, according to state Department of Health data. Florida's ADAP waiting list of 3,513 people is the nation's longest.

For more information, visit www.adapaction.org.

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