GA Equality To Rally On World AIDS Day

 Atlanta – Georgia Equality, through its Georgia HIV Advocacy Network, is holding rally on World AIDS Day – Wednesday, December 1 – at the Georgia State Capitol at 1 p.m. to let the people on the rapidly growing waiting list for Georgia’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) know they have not been forgotten, and to try to help eliminate the waiting list.

“As of the end of October, nearly 700 people are on a waiting list for life-saving medications due to a lack of funding for Georgia’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP),” says Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, which undertakes political action to build a fair majority in Georgia. “This program is funded through both state and federal dollars and provides access to over 60 life-saving HIV-related medications for low- and moderate-income individuals who lack private insurance and who do not qualify for Medicaid.”

On July 1, Georgia joined a growing list of states facing a funding crisis for ADAP due to dramatically increased need for this program. In response to this funding shortfall, a waiting list was established. It is estimated that without additional funding, the waiting list will grow to 1,300 individuals within the next several months. The program currently serves approximately 5,500 people throughout the State of Georgia.

“Join people living with HIV/AIDS and their advocates from throughout the State of Georgia as we deliver postcards to Governor-elect Nathan Deal asking that he provide increases in funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program to eliminate a waiting list for medications,” Graham says.

The Georgia HIV Advocacy Network was formed in 2009. This statewide network of service providers and citizen advocates works for HIV policy initiatives on both a state and county level through policy analysis, advocacy training and coordinated community activities.

Organizations who are supporting the press conference and the Save Georgia ADAP Campaign include: AID Atlanta, AID Gwinnett, AIDS Alliance for Faith and Health, AIDS Athens, Aniz, Citywide Project, Community Advance Practice Nurses, Atlanta Harm Reduction Center, Georgia Equality, Georgia HIV Advocacy Network, Grady Infectious Disease Program, Georgia Rural Urban Summit, Health Students Taking Action Together, HIV Dental Alliance, Metro Atlanta Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, SisterLove, Someone Cares, Metro Atlanta HIV Health Services Planning Council, Open Hand, Positive Impact.