Mississippi Musts
Mississippians observing World AIDS Day
Since the September Stand Against AIDS, AIDS Action in Mississippi (AAIM) Field Organizer Valencia Robinson said that wherever she goes people ask: “What next?”
The answer? A lot.
The fight against AIDS in Mississippi is more vigorous than it ever has been—just this month, AAIM staged a hugely successful World AIDS Day “Reading of the Names” candlelight vigil and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that the state will receive $10 million in new HUD funding. And AAIM has a full plate of demands for the 2009 session of the Mississippi legislature, which begins in January.
“The governor has asked to cut the budget by two percent, so they say now’s not a good time to ask for money, but they do have money to be earmarked for housing already,” Robinson said. “When the economy’s bad it’s all the more important to provide funding for those who really need it. In addition to getting funding through the normal legislative channels, AAIM is working to to get an HIV license plate made to support funding for housing for chronically chemically dependent people living with HIV.
AAIM says that the state should provide $6 million in new funding for the Mississippi Department of Health. Here’s how the money breaks down.
$2 million in new state funding for front-line health care
Over half of all people living with HIV/AIDS in Mississippi do not get basic lifesaving HIV care. The State should spend $2 million to match federal Ryan White Title II dollars to pay for medications and primary health care.
$2 million in new state funding for AIDS supportive housing subsidies to support adherence to HIV treatment and prevention
Unstable housing is a powerful barrier to health care access, and housing is the number one unmet need of Mississippians living with HIV/AIDS. Research demonstrates that stable housing dramatically increases strong connections to health care and decreases HIV risk behaviors. Two million in state funding should pay for ongoing rent or capital subsidies to supplement federal HOPWA funding currently used only for short-term emergency placements.
$500,000 in new state funding for transportation to allow people living with HIV/AIDS to get to front-line treatment providers
In rural and low-income areas, transportation is a primary barrier to health care access. State funding would pay for cab and bus fare and gasoline for transportation to primary health care and supportive services.
$500,000 in new state funding for health care worker education
Front-line health care workers in regions of our state hard hit by HIV/AIDS need dedicated training on HIV/AIDS, including treatment, prevention, diagnosis and methods to overcome stigma and barriers to treatment adherence. State funding should pay for on-site and off-site training and materials to ensure health care workers have the basic and specialized knowledge they need to provide quality care.
$1 million in new state funding for unmet HIV care and prevention needs, including dental and vision services
AIDS and HIV-related illnesses often result in specialized dental and vision problems which public programs don’t always address due to funding shortfalls or benefit limits. Front-line HIV prevention efforts need a boost of resources to improve the effectiveness of outreach, education, based on scientific research not ideology, and service initiatives—every HIV infection we prevent saves hundreds of thousands of dollars for taxpayers and insurers. State funding should pay for HIV-related dental and vision services and expanded HIV prevention efforts in those areas hardest-hit by HIV/AIDS.
Posted on December 10, 2008 at 2:17 am
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