The Republican dominated legislature in South Carolina, which boasts the nation's 8th highest HIV rate, takes drastic measures to balance its budget. The South Carolina House voted Thursday to cut all HIV/AIDS funding from the budget, WIS-TV reports.
The funding issue that could affect thousands of South Carolinians. The South Carolina HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force reports there are more than 14,000 people living in the state who have tested positive for HIV or AIDS. About 3,000 people rely on government funds for medications. Dr. Bambi Gaddist of the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force says when state funding began in 2006 [for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program] more than 600 people were on a waiting list for medicine. Four of those people died.
The South Carolina House's extreme action comes only weeks after neighboring North Carolina made cuts in its AIDS drug assistance program (ADAP), which helps buy expensive retrovirals for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS. North Carolina gay activists and HIV/AIDS service providers are trying to fight those cuts.
New data shows HIV infection rates are rising in the Carolinas, especially in Charlotte-Mecklenburg NC and Columbia SC, which has the 9th highest HIV rate in the nation (pdf) New infections in both North and South Carolina are disproportionately young black gay and bisexual men, a demographic the Centers for Disease Control are is the hardest hit by the HIV epidemic and are seroconverting "at alarming rates" particularly in the \South.
They'll rescind these stupid acts when one of their closet-homos contract the AIDS from the gloryholes they frequent.
Posted by: David | 08 March 2010 at 18:51
The state that gave us Strom Thurmond—and d*mn proud of it, despite his black daughter—is constantly trying to outdo itself in its alliance with Satan.
No matter how evil they get down there, they just never will be satisfied.
We need to give the good people a little time to let get out of there, and then we need to force the state to secede. Let them burn by themselves in the flames of Hell, like they’ve always wanted.
Posted by: Jim | 08 March 2010 at 22:49
Great way to tell those in need, that "WE" The North Carolina Legislation don't care about "OUR" constituents health needs! HIV/AIDS is not going away by simply making services non existant... Way to represent your N.C. Infected/Affected Women on the eve of National Women's and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day!!!
Posted by: Orlando Perez | 09 March 2010 at 10:12