Saturday, September 09, 2006
6,000 in Broward Without Medical Care for HIV
The Independent Community News September 7, 2006 By Michael Rajner Guest Editorial Fort Lauderdale, FL - AIDS is still a major problem in Broward County. As was publicized recently, Broward County has the highest rate of incidence of new cases of HIV of any county in the entire United States. African Americans continue to be the most impacted race in Broward County accounting for 52% of the total, while Men Having Sex with Men account for 43% of the Broward’s HIV/AIDS population. On August 24, a group of African American women living with AIDS that serve on the Broward HIV Planning Council demanded, in no uncertain terms, that funding for Outreach to ALL populations be increased. The women shared passionately with those present that had it not been for Outreach initiatives many of them would not be in medical care, or possibly even alive, today. In the past two years of attending HIV Planning Council meetings I have never seen such a positive and passionate display of courage from members of the HIV Planning Council that live with HIV. The women successfully led the argument in a close and controversial vote to increase the funding for Outreach to all populations… (more)
