National Minority AIDS Council Says Report Threatens Life-Saving AIDS Programs; Report Virulently Attacks HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs

2/18/2002

From: Robert Dabney of the National Minority AIDS Council, 202-483-6622; e-mail: rdabney@nmac.org; Web site: www.nmac.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) has characterized a report issued by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) as virulent and homophobic. The report, "AIDS Programs: An Epidemic of Waste," attacks government funded HIV/AIDS programs.

"We are appalled at this group's homophobic and misinformed report," said Paul Kawata, executive director of the National Minority AIDS Council. "The policy recommendations contained in the report would spell certain death for poor people and communities of color most impacted by HIV/AIDS."

According to the CAGW report, government-funded AIDS programs are plagued by waste. However the group's solution is to dismantle critically needed HIV/AIDS care and support services.

"NMAC supports and stands behind constructive efforts to ensure that resources reach those most in need," continued Kawata. "Clearly, if fraud and abuse exists in AIDS programs, it must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but that by no means justifies dismantling or cutting funds to legitimate organizations and programs that are desperately needed."

According to Kawata, the overwhelming majority of programs funded through federal resources are providing needed prevention, care, and support services to uninsured and underinsured individuals in the states, territories and most impacted cities across the country. These programs were created to address the unique medical and social support service needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. "The recommendations contained in the CAGW report are a death sentence to thousands of people living with HIV across the country, most of whom are people of color."

The report also contains a recommendation that Congress redirect many Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) domestic prevention grants to international AIDS relief efforts, or to increasing funding for research for an AIDS cures. They also propose phasing out and incorporating many Ryan White CARE Act programs, including Title I, into existing federal safety net programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.

"By advocating that prevention messages be kept from those most at risk, and that others be left at the mercy of programs that do not meet the complex and unique health care needs of people living HIV/AIDS, the CAGW has proven that it lacks any real understanding of public health and the plight of poor people living with HIV, most of whom are people of color," said NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata.

"Under current law, people with HIV but who have not become disabled or developed AIDS are not eligible for Medicaid. Reallocating federal resources from Title I to Medicaid does not reflect that reality. Does CAGW propose that we turn our backs on more than 127,000 men, women and children living with HIV in this country?" asked Kawata.

Kawata went on to express his outrage over the blatantly homophobic tone of the report.

"This misguided report singles out and attacks prevention efforts aimed at reaching gay men. NMAC is appalled at these despicable tactics. This group, especially gay men of color, are the most heavily impacted subpopulation affected by HIV/AIDS," Kawata said.

According to CDC there is a need for sustained HIV prevention among men who have sex with men. CDC estimates that men this group represent the largest proportion of new HIV infections (42 percent) and that overall, about 60 percent of men diagnosed with AIDS through December 2000, were men who have sex with men.

"NMAC will not stand by idly and allow misguided and uniformed efforts to dismantle life saving HIV prevention and care services."

--- The National Minority AIDS Council was founded in 1987 to develop leadership within communities of color to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS. NMAC has responded to the needs of communities of color by developing programs aimed at enhancing the skills necessary to confront this health crisis, including a public policy education and advocacy program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment education and advocacy program and numerous publications. Today NMAC is an association of more than 3,000 AIDS service providing organizations, minority community based organizations, hospitals, clinics, and other groups assisting individuals and their families affected by the AIDS epidemic.