World AIDS Delay or Why We Really Need, and May Even Get, A National U.S. AIDS Strategy

by Julie Davids on RH Reality Check

On November 20, over 1000 low-income people of color living with HIV came to the 100 Days to Fight AIDS rally to stand up for the ambitious HIV/AIDS platform under which Obama campaigned for president, including his pledge for a National AIDS Strategy. 100 Days to Fight AIDS Rally100 Days to Fight AIDS Rally

For a change, we approached the nation's capitol in the lead-up to World AIDS Day with a spirit of hope. In the coming months, we must continue to push forward with an expectation of more - not just more resources for existing HIV/AIDS efforts, but for a more strategic and more coordinated, comprehensive response that will actually bring down the rate of infection, tackle the epidemic in communities of color and in gay men, and bring dignity and medical care to the lives of all those who are infected.

And change is what we need. Since we last commemorated World AIDS Day, it's been confirmed that HIV/AIDS is worse in the United States than we ever knew.

In August, CDC finally revealed the data showing that incidence of HIV has always been higher than the 40,000-new-infections-a-year figure trotted out for over a decade - and that the epidemic has stubbornly wedged itself into our society at the rate of 56,300 new cases a year.

CDC calls that a stable epidemic.

I call it a travesty.

And think those that are infected are able to get the care they need? Those flaming radicals at the Institute of Medicine have noted that over half of those who should be on AIDS treatment can't get it consistently.

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