The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has issued a press release saying that the White House’s budget, unveiled Feb. 1, does not provide nearly enough to assist HIV prevention and care services across the country.
“Even with the nominal HIV funding increases proposed by the Obama Administration, fewer HIV prevention and care services will be provided across the country because of disastrous state budget cuts, which will only widen the gap in unmet need,” said David Ernesto Munar, AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) vice president.
The release cites states’ own cuts as well as a discretionary spending limit imposed by President Barack Obama for blocking any effect the funding increases may have. A 2009 National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors survey revealed that states had already cut their HIV and viral-hepatitis budgets by almost $170 million.
As an example of what AFC said is a nominal increase, Obama has requested seeks a $20 million increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program—much lower than the community request of $370.1 million. The White House’s Jeff Crowley has responded, “We can’t fill in all the state budget cuts.”
On the national front, groups such as Project Inform and the the American Academy of HIV Medicine have issued releases stating that they are not entirely satisfied with the proposed increases.