Every year, through the Ryan White Program, the federal government continues to provide AIDS/HIV patients with health
care, awareness, and different support services. It is common believe in 2008 that AIDS/HIV in America is no longer the threat that it was in the '90s. Then why is the federal government still pumping money into AIDS/HIV programs like the Ryan White Foundation?
The reality of the situation is that while advancements in AIDS medication has helped AIDS/HIV become a more manageable long-term illness, the rate of AIDS/HIV infections is still on the rise. According to an article published by the Black AIDS Institute in July of this year, "while blacks represent only about one in eight Americans, half of those living with HIV in the United States is black". This alarming statistic rivals those of Sub-Saharan Africa, the worst HIV/AIDS infected areas of the earth!
However, slightly positive reality regarding HIV/AIDS is that according to a statistic published by AVERT.org, the relative number of AIDS diagnosis and death have been fairly constant. Nevertheless, this is not to negate the amount of individuals, especially in the black community that are living with HIV/AIDS.
Many of these individuals live in underserved, low-income communities with few access to health care, let alone health care for HIV/AIDS. These people need the support and financial assistance of the government; which is why funding for the Ryan White Program and other AIDS programs have not decreased in the 21st century.
Do you think there is more the government could be doing? Is there a better way to lower the amount of infected individuals in America?
