Will the recession increase HIV infection?

The answer is, probably. We all know that one of the first casualties of economic down times are programs that help those in the most need. Its hard enough to make ends meet when there is less money and rising prices. People who were living check to check can find themselves out on the street if that check stops coming. Now comes word that two states with the highest numbers of persons living with HIV/AIDS, California and Pennsylvania, may be making significant cuts in vital HIV prevention and direct care services. The Governator (Arnold Swarzenegger) is proposing 55.5 million in funding cuts to HIV prevention, education and treatment programs. The Republican version of the state budget proposes to cut PA State AIDS Programs by 25%. Sadly, some of the proposed cuts could jeopardize federal matching funds, further spreading the pain.

It s not to late to send a message to state government legislators that cutting HIV/AIDS funding as well as other services to the poor and disabled in the midst of a surging epidemic is penny wise and pound foolish and will only exacerbate the problem.