North Carolina: County to Apply for AIDS Grant

Mecklenburg County commissioners recently voted 8-0 to apply for a federal Ryan White grant that could help combat a growing HIV/AIDS problem. The county reports new HIV infections at nearly twice the statewide average, at the rate of one case per week.

Mecklenburg spends around $1.5 million on HIV/AIDS each year, with much of the focus on prevention and outreach. Health officials say the grant, perhaps $2 million to $3 million annually, would provide much-needed care for patients without private health insurance. The funding would improve early treatment efforts and help patients cover the cost of medications that can run thousands of dollars each month.

Around 50 regions in the country have received the Ryan White money, but until now, the Charlotte area has not been eligible. A change in the federal law last year broadened the criteria for the program, expanding it to communities that have reported 1,000-2,000 new HIV cases over the last five years. In addition to Charlotte, the Memphis, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Baton Rouge regions are newly eligible.

If the grant is awarded, money would be disbursed locally to a six-county area including Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Union, Anson, and York counties.

"It is a great deal of money for Mecklenburg and the surrounding counties, but not enough to fully address the need," said Ann White, executive director of the Metrolina AIDS Project. "It's a start."

Back to other news for February 15, 2007